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Mel Trotter Helps The Hungry: Hosts 20th Annual Thanksgiving Banquet

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Mel Trotter Ministries

Mel Trotter Ministries is hosting its 20th annual Thanksgiving banquet.  It’s a free meal for those who might be hurting, hungry or homeless. Sometimes those who attend leave with more than a full stomach.

“When people come through the door, it’s nice to see their smiles and the warmth of the season and the community rallying around them, and showing them love when they might not otherwise have a meal.”

Mel Trotter Director of Communication, Abbey Sladick, says Mel Trotter will welcome more than two-thousand guests tomorrow for its 20th annual Thanksgiving Banquet, and there’s room for more.

“Whether they’re homeless, whether they’re hungry or whether they just don’t have somewhere to go this holiday season, it’s our opportunity to show them they’re not forgotten this holiday season.”

Sladick says the family style meal, held at Devos place will be served by more than 700 volunteers.  It’s a feast that will consist of the usual holiday fixings, including over 15 hundred pounds of turkey, more than 12-hundred pounds of mashed potatoes and over 200 pies.  The event is free and Sladick says all are welcome.

“There’s no registration necessary. The doors open at 10:30 and the meal will start around 11.

It’s open to anyone who wants to come and have a Thanksgiving meal with the community.”

While the meal serves as nourishment for those in need, Sladick says they’re serving up more than just a meal.  There’s also help available onsite for those who desire it.

“Last year we had one person in particular, who was struggling with addition and we were able to get them into our recovery program and get them on a path to recovery.”

Sladick says Rapid Transit is once again available offering rides to those who need them.  You can information about the schedule and you can also donate if you’d like at Meltrotter.org.    

Jennifer is an award winning broadcast news journalist with more than two decades of professional television news experience including the nation's fifth largest news market. She's worked as both news reporter and news anchor for television and radio in markets from Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo all the way to San Francisco, California.