WS Chronicle

By Felecia Piggott-Long, Ph.D.

More than 80 families were blessed with a Thanksgiving meal on Saturday, Nov. 18, when they came to pick up their care packages, thanks to the efforts of several dedicated members of the Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church and the senior pastor, Elder Daryl Young and First Lady La Tasha Young. Members of the Culinary Ministry, the Security Ministry, the Sunday School department, the Deacon Board, and other church ministries helped to identify families in the community who could benefit from this holiday love package.

Each recipient was assigned a tracking sheet for informational purposes, and it had to be completed before they could receive a turkey or roaster hen, and stuffing, macaroni and cheese, vegetables, and other side items. Pastor Young has been leading Mount Carmel for 13 years, and he was pleased with the outcome of the Thanksgiving Giveaway.

“We feel very good about having an opportunity to serve our community, “ said Pastor Young. “This is what we have been called to do, and we are just being obedient to the call.”

The Culinary Ministry and the Security Ministry came on site around 8 a.m. to organize the trail each guest would follow to receive their gift. Pastor Young and the team joined hands in prayer that God would bless the hearts of the people as they give and those who receive. 

Annie Mallette, the director of the Culinary Ministry, has been a member at Mt. Carmel for 14 years. She was excited about helping to bless the community. “Cooking is my passion. I cook for the church members and for those in the community. I cook at the Salemtowne Retirement Home, and I bake at Harris Teeter. Food is very important in a family,” Mallette said. “Families need to eat together. I am the oldest of seven children. I grew up in Burgaw, North Carolina. Sometimes we did not have all we could eat, and at times we faced hunger because we were poor. But God made a way. I want to make sure that everyone is fed everywhere.”

Beverly Singletary has been a member of Mt. Carmel for 20 years and she is an usher in the church. Singletary was eager to help with the Thanksgiving giveaway because it is an outreach strategy to support the community.

“When we feed the community, we fill their plates and their souls,” she said.

According to Deacon Albert Penn, Sr., a member for 15 years, the church members feed families in the community every Sunday. “A lot of times, when people are not financially blessed to feed themselves, when they come through these doors, it is a joy to see people eat and not be hungry,” said Penn. “People enjoy the food. Some of them join the church and continue to learn about the Lord and get saved. It is an excellent outreach ministry.”

Rebecca Mitchell, assistant director of the youth department, turned in seven people’s names on the tracking sheets.

 “To get a blessing, you have to be a blessing to others,” said Mitchell. “Some of them come to pray with us.”

Doris Jones has been a member of the church for over 40 years. She has served as the Girl Scout director for 39 years. She is proud to see the church continuing this holiday tradition. “This is what Thanksgiving is all about. Food is very high. We are blessed; we want to bless somebody else,” Jones said. “Each year this giveaway helps families to stretch their food dollars. We are trying to help the community.”

Mark and Crystal Hughes have been married seven years. He is a part of the Security Ministry and she is the Sunday School superintendent. He has been a member of the church for 10 years. “I came out today to work with the Security Ministry. My role is to help control the traffic,” said Mark Hughes. “I love the way Pastor Young and his wife La Tasha Young teach in the Sunday School, and I love the fact that we give students school supplies and we give coats to children and adults who need them, and we sponsor a clothes giveaway. We desire to help the community.”

Sarah Josepha Hale, the poet known for writing the poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” is “the Mother of Thanksgiving.” In 1846, she began writing to each president of the United States to make her case to establish Thanksgiving as a national  annual celebration. President George Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving on Nov. 26, 1789. President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday in November  in 1863.