Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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20 UCW NOVEMBER 14-20, 2018 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Hope Mills News & Views NEWS Hope Mills continues Thanksgiving meal tradition for those in need by EARL VAUGHAN JR. A tradition that start- ed in 2009 at the Hope Mills ALMSHOUSE will continue this Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, as volunteers at the ecumenical community ministry will again serve a tra- ditional Thanksgiving meal to those in need in the community. Grilley Mitchell, volunteer program coordinator for the ALMSHOUSE Love Lunch program, said the Thanksgiving meal was such a big hit when it was first tried that the ALMSHOUSE has made it an annual event. Regular meals are part of what the ALMSHOUSE does, serving food Monday through Friday at noon and 5 p.m. and on Saturday at noon and Sunday at 5 p.m. Mitchell said the only difference at the Thanksgiving meal, which will start at noon and continue until the food runs out, is the fare focuses on the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Mitchell said this year's meal is planned to include turkey, ham, candied yams, green peas, green beans, macaroni and cheese, potato salad and desserts. Community support and a variety of donations make the special meal possible, Mitchell said. ALMSHOUSE volunteers prepare and serve the food. In some cases, Mitchell said, whole families come in to take part in helping with preparation. "They want to do something to serve and teach their kids how to give back,'' Mitchell said. There are no restrictions on who can show up to take part in the meal. "Anybody that needs a meal and wants a meal is served,'' Mitchell said. "We do not turn anyone away. Show up and let us serve you.'' Anyone who would like to make a contribu- tion of food or money to support the ALMSHOUSE ministry can drop by during normal business hours Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at 3909 Ellison St. or contact Mitchell directly at 910-476-3719. "Come out and enjoy,'' Mitchell said. "We give each and every one love and respect.'' EARL VAUGHAN JR., Senior Staff Writer. COMMENTS? EarlUCWS- ports@gmail.com. 910-364-6638. Grilley Mitchell Regular meals are a part of what the ALMSHOUSE does. Highland Baptist hosts community Thanksgiving service by EARL VAUGHAN JR. Rev. Wesley Holmes is a newcomer to Hope Mills, but he plans to bring a famil- iar message about giving thanks when he leads the annual com- munity Thanksgiving service scheduled this Sunday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. at Highland Baptist Church on Legion Road. Holmes, a native of Rome, Georgia, became pastor at Hope Mills Church of God in July of this year. He's been a full-time minister since 2002, pas- toring at North Carolina churches in Sanford, Greenville and Morehead City. He called the community Thanksgiving event a wonderful time to come together, worship the Lord and offer thanks. "I believe thanksgiving is an everyday experi- ence,'' Holmes said. "I think we should be thankful each and every day.'' During the entire month of November, Holmes puts extra emphasis on the importance of giving thanks. He thinks it's important that Christians of all denominations share the experience. "I believe when we get to heaven it's not going to be just one denomination,'' he said. "We're all the body of Christ and we believe in Jesus Christ. We need to worship together.'' He believes for many people the only time they stop to give thanks daily is at meal time. "To take a day or a month to emphasize thanksgiving is very important for people,'' he said. "Just to slow down and remember the blessings of the Lord. Be thankful for what he's done in our lives.'' While Holmes will be delivering the message at the community service, pastors from other congre- gations in Hope Mills will take part in the service. An offering will be received at the service, with the money going to local flood relief efforts. Highland Baptist Church Rev. Wesley Holmes