BUFFALO, N.Y. — Every year, a week before Thanksgiving, help is not hard to find. An East Side community church makes sure of it.
"It reminds us that there's work to do all year long," says Senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Corey Gibson. "We just try to do our part and obliviously we cannot address all the needs singularly. However, when we come together collectively with others, we're able to address many of those needs."
So, one way the Senior Pastor makes sure no one goes without a hot Thanksgiving dinner, is Gibson and his church members box up home-cooked meals and deliver them to residents in the community.
This year Gibson used a unique approach. He gathered churches from different denominations to help out with the giveaways.
"It's a wonderful experience to give back to the community and express our gratitude- our own particular thanks for what we have," says elder LeeAnn Grace with University Presbyterian Church.
"It's tremendously rewarding, and I feel gratitude that I can be a little bit of help," says member Reine Hauser of Temple Beth Zion.
With the tragedy at Tops on May 14 still on people's minds, it is the knock at the door that helps these volunteers and the community heal.
"It's been tough for everyone. And what do we do when things get tough? We lend a hand," says AKA President Crystal Benton.
The work is wholesome and done with love. At best, these community helpers get a thank you, but that's okay because at least no one is left out for Thanksgiving.