The Salvation Army serves another Thanksgiving meal | Local news

JANESVILLE

The tradition was new for the Majes of the Salvation Army of Janesville. Tom and Julie McDowell: A complete Thanksgiving meal served on Thanksgiving Day by a team of volunteers.

Although they have only been used in Janesville for five months, the McDowell have taken up the tradition.

"It's just wonderful," said Tom McDowell.

Approximately 120 volunteers served approximately 400 people at the organization's headquarters at 514 Sutherland Ave., Janesville. Meals were brought to 100 other people at home.

As part of the tradition, guests, volunteers and staff shared what they were grateful for.

Tom McDowell was grateful for the day and for being in Wisconsin.

Janesville's Rhonda Green dinner was grateful for her new apartment, which is much safer than its former one. Rhonda, who attends church at the Salvation Army, is also grateful for her work at Walgreens on Court Street and for her colleagues.

"I also love thanking my feet for bringing me here," Green said with a smile.

At the front door, visitors were greeted by Karen Bronson of Edgerton and half of the Guzzardo family from Janesville.

Bronson said that she was grateful for "the love of the Lord and the health of my family".

She was also grateful to be at the Salvation Army.

"I had to be with people and do something good," said Bronson.

Beside her, Nick Guzzardo and two of his children, Micah and Dillon, were part of the hospitality team while the rest of the family, Cameron and his mother Michelle, were working in the kitchen. dining room.

It was the second year of the family as volunteers and they hoped to make it a tradition.

Micah, 6, was grateful for his friends and "having a bed". Dillon, 5, was grateful for her toys.

The father of the boys was grateful for the "surplus in our lives" and the opportunity to serve.

Patrice Gabower, a Salvation Army volunteer and special events coordinator, was grateful to her family.

"I'm also grateful to have the time in my life to come in and serve all day," she said.

Being at the Salvation Army on Thanksgiving Day is a blessing – a break with all the negativity that seems to permeate modern life.

"People are so grateful," said Gabower. "It's wonderful to be here."

While the Salvation Army is addressing in the next part of its biggest fundraising season, Gabower hopes that some of the Thanksgiving volunteers – and other members of the community who could not serve during the holiday – will consider ringing the bells.

This year, the local Salvation Army hopes to raise $ 425,000 as part of its Red Kettle campaign.

The Salvation Army has "thousands of hours" available for banders, Tom McDowell said earlier.

The money collected is used to help local families in need through meals, food baskets, social services such as rent subsidies, utility payments and even some housing. Last year's campaign money provided 18,054 hot meals, 7,747 pantry orders and 3,506 personal or clothing items, according to the Salvation Army.