More than 1,000 meals will be prepared to give out to families on Thanksgiving Day.

Chefs, students to give more than just thanks

By: Jill Beathard

Posted: 11/26/08

What would Thanksgiving be without turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans and pie? Epicures Catering of College Station and Twin City Mission in Bryan are ensuring that no one has to find out.

"We accept any call, no questions asked," said James Kneip, executive chef for Epicures. "Anyone that says they need a meal can get one. Just call and say how many and where to deliver, or come here on Thanksgiving Day."

The catering company will provide up to 1,200 meals. Epicures prepares individually boxed meals, including turkey, dressing, giblet gravy, green beans, sweet potatoes and a dessert of cake or pie. The Brazos Valley Food Bank coordinates the donation of food for Epicures' meals.

"We get students volunteering for classes or community service," Kneip said. "We get people from throughout the community volunteering. All ages, all family members, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, parents bring the kids."

Some Aggies and community members spend their holiday serving at Twin City Mission's Thanksgiving feast. Some students will stay in town an extra day to help out before heading home for break.

"The A&M basketball team helped served one year, Coach R.C. Slocum used to help serve, we get our representatives Ogden and Brown serving," said Ron Crozier, director of community relations for Twin City Mission. "We had volunteers calling to sign up in August."

In 2007, the Mission served 700 meals.

"We really take this as an opportunity to think about what is the reason for the season," Crozier said.

Bo Reed, advertising and marketing director for Epicures, said with the state of the economy, families that have never asked before are requesting meals from Epicures. "You can tell they don't want to be making that call," he said.

Kneip said the director of the food bank anticipated higher numbers, up to 1,300 this holiday season.

Thirteen A&M-Galveston students are not only volunteering at Epicures, but are taking meals to their families.

"We're helping them out, but they're also helping us out," said Reed.

The Wednesday staff at Sbisa and other dining halls on campus will cook Epicures' 55 donated turkeys. Staff and volunteers will begin delivering meals around 10:30 a.m. Volunteers are still needed to aid with preparation and delivering.

Crozier said Twin City Mission and Epicures complement each other to serve as many community members as possible. Twin City Mission offers meals served by volunteers every day of the year. The shifts this week are almost full, but in previous years the shelter has been short on volunteers the Friday after Thanksgiving.

"It's a real emotional issue for people staying in a homeless shelter," Crozier said. "It's like 'you were there yesterday, where are you today?'"

"Just looking someone in the eye when you're serving the food could be the thing that sparks them to re-engage in society. We encourage people who call in late to serve the next day [after Thanksgiving]. Checks and donations are always appreciated, but the more lasting impact on the people you're trying to help comes from involvement."

Turkeys
The Wednesday staff at Sbisa and other dining halls on campus will cook Epicures' 55 donated turkeys. Staff and volunteers will begin delivering meals around 10:30 a.m. Volunteers are still needed to aid with preparation and delivering.