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On Friday, I was a little discouraged knowing that 690 families had signed up to receive a Thanksgiving Dinner from us as You Are Special Community Outreach, a local food pantry/food bank in the City of Orange because they might not all receive the dinner. Our normal Stater Bros in Santa Ana and Ralph’s in Tustin that we collect food from in our local community said we did not have our paper work in order so we would not be able to stand outside and get the donations from the community that we would need in order to get the food for the families.

Giving out a flyer and a young woman giving generously!

So I came home, cried a little then prayed, “Lord, You know our needs and You knew this would happen so I put my trust in You.”

Then got up and all of us worked together spread out over this local area of Tustin, Orange and Santa Ana to the stores who were willing to let us be there such as Pacific Ranch, Stater Bros in Orange across from the food pantry, and Stater Bros in Tustin, Ralph’s in Orange on Main and Chapman, Albertson’s on Jamboree/Chapman, Albertson’s in Villa Park, and Albertson’s on Tustin and Collins.The store managers and customers helped us to collect the turkeys and food needed to fill up bags for those in our local area to have a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. I have to say “thank you” to those who donated. Huge turkeys from Pacific Ranch Market, customers and the store. Bruxies in Orange donated 12 turkeys! And some men in the community dropped off turkeys during the week. My friends, Project Dignity, WD Foundation and Southern Counties who donated finances to make this happen.

The list of those in need is huge. Daily people have a need and economic situations place them in a position where they will stand in line for several hours at our own facility as well as other places like ours. Many elderly, young college kids away from home and from very diverse backgrounds are in need.

I have a lot to be thankful for! My Lord, my husband, my children, and grandchildren. My friends, co-laborers, my church, community and all those who make wonderful events like this happen.

~Michelle

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• Thanksgiving Dinner preparation at a local community food bank, You Are Special (covenantlifechristianchurchyas.wordpress.com)
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