Annual Feast before the Feast helps feed those in need
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - We are just eight days away from Thanksgiving and various organizations across the community are providing a hot meal this holiday season.
Preparations have been happening all week for the annual Feast before the Feast.
This year, organizers say they are preparing a lot more plates to be served for Thursday’s dinner.
They served 2,000 plates last year, which is the most organizer Monique Braswell says they’ve ever seen, and she’s been doing this since 2010.
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There would have been more had they not run out of food in just over an hour.
It wasn’t because they didn’t prepare. It was the need for food.
This year, cooking prep started Wednesday at the Henry Brigham Center.
The grills are sizzling and the stoves are steaming. It all signals it’s time for Feast-giving.
“We wanted to make sure the children that went on during the Thanksgiving holiday. We knew for a fact they had a meal because we were providing a full-course meal,” said Braswell.
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Braswell says last year, they served more than 5,000 people.
But this year with a community hurting from Hurricane Helene, she’s expecting turnout to double.
“We knew. We felt like Hurricane Helene had brought on even more food insecurity. People are hungry. People don’t have enough,” said Braswell.
It’s a lot of hard work, weeks in the planning and hours in this kitchen.
Organizers are preparing 1,500 pounds of chicken, 600 pounds of green beans, 75 pans of mac and cheese and more.
But by Thursday, when they see the faces, they say it will all be worth it.
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“Knowing a child will have ham, turkey or chicken or mashed potatoes. Knowing that maybe they won’t have it on Thanksgiving Day, but I know they got it,” said Braswell.
If you’re hungry, it all kicks off at 5 p.m.
Henry Brigham is a very popular location, so you’ll want to get here early to avoid the long lines.
Once you get your plate, you can eat it there or you can take it home.
If you can’t make it, there are six other locations, including one in Wrens.
Several locations are hosting dinners for the Feast before the Feast, including the McBean, Henry Brigham, Gracewood, Bernie Ward and Carrie J. Mays community centers.
Meals will be served from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday.
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