By Delayna Earley
The Island News
The Parish Church of St. Helena brought many in the Beaufort community together for “worship, fellowship and a full Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings” on Thanksgiving Day.
More than 600 people were fed during their 44th annual Community Thanksgiving service and dinner on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, with roughly 400 breaking bread in person in the Parish Hall and approximately 200 meals being delivered to home-bound residents.
Of those in attendance were a “young couple that just moved to Beaufort, a homeless family living in their car and a husband and wife who had missed attending St. Helena’s dinner 35 years ago when they were passing through on their honeymoon but came back, determined not to miss it for their anniversary,” according to Jai Dowell, Director of Local Missions at St. Helena’s.
As is tradition, the meal was prepared and served by volunteers from the Beaufort community and organizing for he event began weeks ahead of time to make sure that everything from refrigeration space to meal transportation teams were arranged.
More than 40 turkeys were cooked for the event, and more than 150 people contributed their time, food and “special talents” to ensure that there was enough for everyone to eat and that all who attended were greeted with love and hospitality, according to Dowell.
For the first time, the religious service held prior to the meal was held at Old Grace Chapel AME.
Delayna Earley formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
