Families of volunteers help the People’s City Mission serve up to 700 meals for Thanksgiving Day

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – It started off with a pep talk and a prayer over the nearly one hundred volunteers that showed up to the People’s City Mission’s annual Thanksgiving event.

Within minutes of guests arriving, the atmosphere became loud but cheerful, as both volunteers and guests expressed gratitude for the day of free meals.

The People’s City Mission has been serving hot holiday meals for over one hundred years, and their CEO Pastor Tom Barber says all the while, the mission has relied on their volunteers to give people in need a welcoming Thanksgiving.

Many of those volunteers, bringing their family with them, like the Kasaty family who has been volunteering together since 2020.

“We’ve been able to see the girls grow through this experience and go from ‘wait, what are we doing’ to it being a family tradition that we look forward to every year,” said Paul Kasaty.

“We get here, we get gloved up, hair nets, aprons,” said Brenda Kasaty, indicating that her daughter, Selah’s apron would be dragging on the floor the first year because she was so little.

Selah is now eight years old, and her father says she has no plans to stop volunteering.

“We have to get out of the way of our kids and they take over,” he said.

The Johnson family tells me they also share this tradition for good reason.

“We’re pretty fortunate you know, with the blessings we’ve experienced, so especially around the holiday season we try to go out and do things like this,” said Delonte Johnson.

His son Traeton says he like being around all the people and helping out, and daughter Kaelena says she simply has fun doing it.

Amidst the fun to be had, Johnson also says they’re just trying to help out.

That help, is what Pastor Tom says is not only critical, but for the holiday, customizable too.

“They sit down, we have volunteers ask them what they like, ‘gravy, no gravy’, and it’s a chance to connect with people around the table,” he says.

Thanksgiving meals are the only meals that are actually served to guests rather then the normal self-service routine.

“It means everything to them, and our guests talk all year about Thanksgiving dinner,” said Pastor Tom.

The many families receiving those meals, expressing what they are most thankful.

“Family and food. I’m also thankful for the friends I have at my table,” said Zanyiah Winn.

“This thanksgiving I’m thankful for my family, and the fact that this place allows us to stay for free and we’re about to get out, so that’s what I’m thankful for,” said Lachlan Krause.

Timothy Siele says he thankful for “God, and for all these wonderful people, and this food.”

“I’m thankful to be alive, thankful for these people to have this idea today, it’s a wonderful day,” adds Lemmy Nozie.

The People’s City Mission and their help center serve almost six thousand meals each Thanksgiving.