ANGOLA, N.Y. — All of the Thanksgiving fixings you would ever need are neatly stacked and displayed as of you had just walked into a grocery store. Though instead of a grocery store, it's Brooke Hepkins' living room.
"I have to say my family is usually very happy the day after, because they get their living room back. But it does, it takes over the entire house," Hepkins said.
For about 12 years now, Hepkins has organized a Thanksgiving donation drive. Welcoming donations to include in ready-to-cook Thanksgiving bags distributed to families by area schools.
A task that Brooke and volunteers have happily taken on without ever directly meeting those benefitting from their efforts. However, that's all changing this year.
"This year we'll hopefully be able to have, I'll be able to see some faces, because we're taking on a whole new chapter," Hepkins said.
A whole new chapter thanks, in part, to the Western New York Walleye Fishing Club.
"Western New York walleye held a tournament in September, and the proceeds of that tournament, they wanted to do something to give back to the community," said Jeff Jarzynski, Walleye club member.
So, in the spirit of giving thanks, Jeff and the club offered to pitch in for this year's donation drive. The club, donating 14 cases of turkey's. Roughly 56 individually.
"That allowed us to take on now feeding we'll be doing the Thanksgiving day dinner from 12 to three at most precious blood cafeteria," Hepkins said.
If you're looking to help serve this year's Thanksgiving meal, volunteers are welcomed at The Most Precious Blood Parish on Tuesday, Nov. 26 and Wednesday, Nov. 27 from 6 to 9 p.m., and again on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, at 10 a.m. Meal time starts at noon.