By Meghan McCormick
Greg Mohr is thankful an organization such as Food and Shelter for Friends exists to feed hungry residents on Thanksgiving Day who may not otherwise have the chance to eat.
Mohr stopped by the shelter Thursday to share Thanksgiving dinner with friends and lend a helping hand.
"I'm thankful I live in Norman where there are people who care to donate money and time to help people who live on the streets," he said.
Mohr knows not everyone gets to spend the holidays with their loved ones.
"It can be pretty depressing," Mohr said. "Some of these people either don't have family close by or are estranged from their families."
Mohr said he visited the organization Wednesday to decorate the dining area.
"I volunteer anytime they need me," he said.
Executive Director Lisa Sorrells, said by 12:45 p.m., volunteers had served about 200 meals to clients. This year's Thanksgiving menu included turkey, ham, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls and pumpkin pie.
Sorrells said meal preparation began Wednesday.
"Yesterday was a big flurry of cooking," she said.
Sorrells said Food and Shelter for Friends volunteers gave Meals on Wheels drivers a break Thursday. Helpers delivered 140 Thanksgiving dinners to Meals on Wheels recipients.
She said local businesses donated the majority of food needed for Thursday's meal. The shelter received eight hams, 20 turkeys, 65 pies and 100 packages of bread.
"Throughout the year, contributions have been down, but for Thanksgiving, people really stepped up," she said.
Sorrells called the dinner "a beautiful community effort."
"It's a great community. It really is," she said.
At Food and Shelter for Friends, clients normally pick up their meals in a serving line. However, that wasn't the case for Thanksgiving.
"This is a day that we serve our clients at the table," Sorrells said.
Sorrells said between 55 and 60 volunteers took time out of their schedules to serve meals and clean up tables.
Victoria Eno and three other waitresses from the Mont, used their day off from work to volunteer at the shelter. Eno also talked her boyfriend, Greg Harrison into dishing up turkey and dressing.
"It was my girlfriend's idea," Harrison said. "We're going to celebrate with friends later."
Eno said she didn't mind using her day off to help those who are less fortunate.
"It's a lot more fun here and the atmosphere is casual," Eno said as she served turkey dinners.
Eno and fellow waitress Erin Elliott tended to clients and brought extra helpings of food.
"This is my second year," Elliott said.
Elliott said she encourages people to donate their time to the shelter.
Vicky Allery and her fiancee William Hendershot were impressed with their meals.
"It was very good," Allery said. "I'm glad they had this."
Allery said she understands what it's like not to have a place to spend the holidays.
"I have been there at one time," she said.
She said Food and Shelter for Friends helps people who have very little.
"I thank God for it. If it wasn't for God or Jesus, nobody would have any of this," Allery said.
Hendershot said he supports agencies such as Food and Shelter for Friends 100 percent.
"I think it's a very good thing," he said.
Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com
