WS Chronicle

Whole Man Ministries and Our Father’s House Ministries gave away 350 turkeys, fixings and pies last weekend during their fourth annual Thanksgiving Giveaway. 

According to Bishop Barry Washington, senior pastor of Whole Man Ministries, the giveaway started during the pandemic and they saw a great need throughout the community. “A lot of people were really suffering, so with the first one we gave out toys, household products because there was a real need,” Washington said. 

Since 2020 the giveaway has continued to grow. This year the line of cars waiting outside Whole Man Ministries, 3916 Old Lexington Road, stretched nearly a mile and the line started to form nearly an hour before the event was scheduled to start. Student athletes from Carolina Basketball Academy helped other volunteers load the cars. Washington said every car received enough food to feed four people. 

“We’re expecting 350 but the meal that we’re giving out feeds four so that means 1,400 people are going to benefit from this.”

When discussing the annual giveaway, Bishop Jeff Dowell, senior pastor of Our Father’s House Ministries, said they prepare all year for the event and it’s all worth it to be a blessing to those in need. 

“We just want to serve our community, we want people to know that they’re not alone. We want people to know that they’re not desolate and that there are people out here who love them,” Dowell said.