OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Hot Thanksgiving meals were passed out to hundreds of unhoused people on Wednesday afternoon at the Homeless Alliance as part of their Turkey Tango Lunch.
It all started Monday at Francis Tuttle where 75 turkeys were prepped.
By Wednesday afternoon, poultry, sides and sweets joined together on plates and it was time to eat. This year, there was quite the long line with the expectation they would serve about 400 people.
"It is a great celebration of gratitude as well as connection,” Homeless Alliance Chief Communications Officer Taylor Self said.
According to Self, Francis Tuttle’s culinary students prepping the turkeys is a partnership going on a decade. They also pull them apart so their ready to serve. The sides come from local restaurants in the area, leaving nothing missing from a traditional Thanksgiving feast.
"Definitely something that's going to kind of remind people of the past and kind of different dinners that they've had with their families before,” Self said.
"It's a great feeling to give back,” volunteer Nani Paxton said.
Paxton volunteers there three days per week. After moving from Los Angeles, this is something she wanted to be a part of to help with homelessness.
"Oklahoma City really does a great job at addressing it and getting the community involved to solve this huge problem,” Paxton said.
Happiness and smiles with full plates turning to full stomachs. On a holiday of giving thanks, even those not eating get something out of it to.
"I think this opportunity to kind of bring them to the table and say ‘happy Thanksgiving, we made this for you’ is a really great, great chance for all of us,” Self said.
If you’d like to volunteer, you can visit the Homeless Alliance website here.
