Thanksgiving Day meals for people in need

It wasn’t even 6 a.m. Thursday, but the Rev. Tony Marciano was already dressed in a black bow tie, white button-down shirt and black pants.

In just a few minutes, Marciano would lead about 70 volunteers in serving made-to-order breakfast meals to 400 people who are homeless, recovering from drug addictions or otherwise in need of a hot meal at Charlotte Rescue Mission.

The people they were about to serve deserve to feel special, said Marciano, the mission’s executive director. “This is about dignity, respect,” he said.

So the hall Thursday was to be regarded as a fine dining establishment, he said as soft piano music played over the sound system. Welcome them, take time to get to know them, he urged.

“When you’re struggling with homelessness, nobody thinks you are of value,” he said, so show them they are. “This is about making the love of God so real you can touch it.”

The mission served 1,200 meals throughout the day, including Thanksgiving dinners. It also provided 2,000 Thanksgiving food boxes on Monday for people to enjoy at home.

The mission’s Thanksgiving was among several events across the region Thursday.

At Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, 400 service members and their families gathered for a holiday meal given by UTC Aerospace Systems and the USO of North Carolina. It was UTC’s way to thank the troops for serving the country, spokeswoman Cynthia Forbes said.

And Skyland Restaurant on South Boulevard in Charlotte gave away 3,000 boxes of hot turkey dinners to anyone who showed up.

“There is a great need,” said the Rev. Theodore Kyritsis, who started the tradition nine years ago with Skyland owner Jimmy Kakavitsas/. “Many are homeless. Many are poor. Many are stranded. We pray for all the blessings of the Most High Almighty upon these meals.”

This story was originally published November 26, 2015 at 4:50 PM with the headline "Thanksgiving Day meals for people in need."