GAINESVILLE – One of Gainesville’s longest running, open-community Thanksgiving celebrations now has two seatings.
“We’re going to have one seating at 11:30 and another at 1:00 p.m.” Denise Johnson, Community Coordinator for Good News. “I hope we are overwhelmed with people because we have been overwhelmed with donations of food. We have been blessed beyond measure with donations of food.”
Nearly thirty years ago Good News at Noon founders Gene and Margie Beckstein began inviting anyone without a place to enjoy a hearty, traditional Thanksgiving feast to join them at the ministry’s new facility on Davis Street.
Mr. and Mrs. B even encouraged those who DID have a place to celebrate Thanksgiving to adjust their schedules and come and help serve at the shelter. Mr. B called upon anyone so led “to break bread with the patrons and share life”.
Soon the volunteers wanting to serve the homeless outnumbered those seeking a meal. The overflowing dining room served as a testimony to the generous and caring heart of those living in and around Gainesville, something that continues to this day according to Interim Director Ken Gossage.
“It certainly is a great community,” Gossage said of the volunteers. “For some people this is part of their annual Thanksgiving, and they join with us. Those being fed are blessed and those that are serving are blessed also.”
Meanwhile, Johnson spent the morning busily positioning volunteers, explaining assignments and checking with those handling the food in the kitchen. As 11:30 approached the 102 chairs for the first seating began to disappear.
Patrons were told to remain seated and their meal would be brought to them by the myriad of volunteers, some as young as eight, some exceeding eighty.
As the years have gone by and more opportunities have become available across Hall County for a free Thanksgiving meal, the crowds have thinned, but the need continues.
Fletcher Law, Lead Pastor for Good News at Noon, says the shelter does much more than just feed the body. “I get to work with about 26 pastors; we have services every night and we have a discipleship program for these men.”
Law continued, “We’ve had seven people get baptized and make professions of faith for Christ this last eight weeks.”
As to the future of the ministry, Gossage said the ministry has a vision they are prayerfully pursuing. “We’ve got a lot of big dreams for what we’d like to do for this community in the future.”
The Davis Street sheltered is aging and struggles at times to have the space necessary to meet demand. “Many things are changing as far as to how to approach and solve homelessness. We feel like Gainesville is a great place to start that.”
While Gossage was not able to share details he did say, “We’re looking, definitely, to expand what we’re doing here in the future.”
For more information on how to join with Good News at Noon in its battle to meet the needs of those in need, click here, or call (770) 503-1366.
