KINSTON, N.C. (WITN) – Hundreds of people gathered at the Grainger Stadium parking lot Saturday afternoon to receive home-cooked Thanksgiving meals from Sisters United of Kinston.
The organization, founded by sisters Victor Fields and Hattie King Hall, marked its 13th year of distributing community meals. Organizers said this year’s event was more needed than ever.
“We were noticing that a lot of people in Kinston were homeless, going to the shelter, eating, and everything, and God just put it on our hearts to start this,” Victor Fields said.
The sisters initially funded the distribution with their own money and prepared all the food themselves. Fields and Hall, who are older now, still cook for these community distributions. In fact, they cooked 12 whole turkeys in preparation for the larger attendance this year.
Throughout the years, the organization has gained more support, donations, and recipients. This year, organizers felt the distribution was critical.
“We’ve been on this battle for quite some time, and this year we felt the need to come more so because of the things happening in the world. We need to demonstrate love and not hate because only what you do for Christ lasts,” Hattie King Hall said.
The event saw its biggest turnout yet on Saturday, as they continued to pass out plates of turkey, yams, green beans, and more.
“This is a lot this year. I don’t know if it had something to do with the government shutdown and them cutting off the food stamps for the people, but this is bigger than I’ve ever seen it,” Fields said.
Community members said they were grateful for the meals.
“Be thankful every day you’re breathing and living, because some people aren’t able to eat on Thanksgiving. So I think this is great,” said Don Walker, a meal recipient.
Fields and Hall thanked all donors who made this year’s community distribution possible.
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Dining and Cooking