Thanksgiving food drive with a record of success
On November 22, 2018, Richmond SOL had an awesome turnout for the 12th Annual Thanksgiving Clothes & Food Giveaway, where community members received grocery donations, free haircuts, free clothing — and a lot of love and friendship. A huge debt of gratitude goes to our friends at That’s My Dog-TMD Cares, the community service branch of That’s My Dog gourmet hot dogs, based in Richmond. The volunteers served 500 free hot dinners, including delivered and to-go meals, to community members who came to Veterans Memorial Hall for food, music, and friendship.
In the days before Thanksgiving, Richmond SOL friends and neighbors collected food donations with the support of local businesses and put together over 200 shopping bags for distribution. The items given away included not only nonperishable groceries, but also essentials such as toothbrushes and toothpaste.
On Thanksgiving morning, food donations were distributed to individuals and families who came to Veterans Hall, and also to day laborers who routinely wait at pickup points in search of a day’s work. Many, many thanks to our volunteers who collected the groceries, assembled the donation bags, distributed bags onsite, and also delivered bags to other locations, where people gratefully accepted them.
At Veterans Hall, another group of talented and generous volunteers gave haircuts to men, women, and children. These professional barbers and hair stylists were kept busy for up to four hours and served anyone who needed a haircut, free of charge. One woman client had tears in her eyes and broke down several times in gratitude as the stylist cut and curled her hair. She said she had never been treated with such kindness!
Inside the hall, more volunteers sorted and displayed donated clothing and shoes, which were offered free of charge to anyone who needed them.
At 12:00 noon, with a DJ playing music in a party-like atmosphere, the volunteers from That’s My Dog-TMD Cares served a delicious hot dinner to grateful community members and volunteers. Richmond SOL truly appreciates the teamwork that made this an amazing Thanksgiving event. We are so happy and proud to have the support and collaboration of the Richmond community.