11/28/2025
Thank you to everyone who joined us today for our Thanksgiving lunch! 🦃🍂🥧
We ended up serving around 50 people, and every person who came made the event worthwhile. It was a meaningful start to something we hope grows year after year.
This event came together quickly, with the official announcement only going out on October 30, and with the short notice, the amount of support we received was incredible. WSLS 10 helped share the event and even stopped by with cameras. Feeding Southwest Virginia distributed our fliers through their network. Piedmont Printing & Graphics generously donated stacks of fliers that we took to local libraries — and several attendees mentioned that’s how they heard about the lunch. We also had a 4×8 banner from Kevin Signs displayed out front at Aztec Rental, 2069 Apperson Dr, Salem VA, which helped spread the word locally.
A special thank you to the restaurants and caterers who provided the food: Martin's Downtown, Pumpernickel Pickle, Blue Ridge Catering, Lib & Amy Catering, and Wildwood Smokehouse. The food was a highlight — everyone commented on how delicious it was and how welcoming the atmosphere felt.
Even with a smaller group, the conversations were good, the atmosphere was positive, and we met several new members of the community. It was a simple, genuine opportunity to connect with people and offer a warm meal on a holiday that can be difficult for many.
We’re already planning to do this again next year, with more time to get the word out and an even bigger reach. Thank you again to everyone who attended, donated, or supported this first year. It was a solid foundation, and we’re looking forward to building on
