HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) - During Thanksgiving week, we’re reminded of how generous the Coast Life is.
On Thursday, law enforcement in Harrison County will team up once again with hundreds of volunteers to make sure those in need have a happy Thanksgiving.
“I love what I do for the community and it’s a need, that’s why we call it Feed the Needy,” Jimmy Johnson said.
This makes the 35th straight year for Feed the Needy, and retired Harrison County Sheriff’s Department employee Jimmy Johnson has been there for everyone.
“I’m only one person, but there’s a thousand people involved in this thing,” Johnson said.
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One of those people is Harrison County Sheriff Matt Haley.
“It started out with probably 100-200 meals, so now it’s anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 meals,” Haley said.
Over the years, organizers estimate about 95,000 meals total have been served.
The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department has led the way in organizing Feed the Needy, but now all the law enforcement agencies in Harrison County work together.
“We couldn’t do this without our law enforcement partners, it’s every law enforcement agency across the Coast,” Haley said.
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The organization and hard work lead to hot Thanksgiving meals being delivered personally to those in need.
“When you knock on that door, a lady comes to the door, you say, ‘Here’s your hot meal,’ she’ll say, ‘Can you come in?’” Johnson said. “She’s asking for you to come in for a few minutes and talk with me. Not only are you giving a hot meal, but you’re also sharing some time with that person that’s lonely.”
Over 35 years as Feed the Needy grows, the location of the operation has changed many times. In the last few years, the food has been packaged up and sent out for delivery at the Lyman Community Center after being cooked at the Harrison County Work Center.
“It starts about 2 in the morning the day before, but they bring the food in hot to the Lyman Community Center on Highway 49, and the volunteers come out in droves to help,” Haley said.
All ages spend their holiday helping, and everybody has a role to play.
“You’ll see a four- or five-year-old holding a plate of food, going down the line, give it to a person on the end, they fold it and put it up, then they go back and get in line so they can serve more,” Johnson said. “You’ll have kids that started in kindergarten or first grade, they’re off in college, when they come back for Thanksgiving or Christmas, they’re still coming with their families to feed the needy.”
Through helping also comes relationship building.
“This puts a lot of people together from different cities and areas around here, they’re all together for the same cause because they want to help somebody,” Haley said. “A lot of people around the holidays ask, ‘What can I do to help?’ This is something that costs you absolutely nothing to help somebody.”
“People have a loving heart, they want to share, and care,” Johnson said. “People have a need and we meet that need.”
Although the time to request meals for this Thanksgiving has closed, meals will also be available for Christmas.
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For more information on how you can volunteer or donate to Feed the Needy, visit their website.
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