Christian Social Ministries, 31 N. Zetterower Avenue, Statesboro, GA will be distributing 677 Thanksgiving meal bags, donated by the East Georgia Regional Medical Center (EGRMC) Hospital Auxiliary, beginning at 8 am on Monday, November 20, 2023.
The bags are filled with everything you need for a Thanksgiving meal including a gift card for meat. There will be no financial or other requirements to receive the meal. Anyone who needs a Thanksgiving meal can get one as long as they last. This is a first come, first serve distribution. Citizens are encouraged to get in line early to ensure they receive a meal. The distribution will end at noon unless they run out earlier.
SHOUT OUT to the EGRMC Hospital Auxiliary, EGRMC Staff, Neighbors and Patients
WOW!! Standing Ovation is deserved for the 40 Hospital Auxiliary volunteers, 48 department heads and the 1,100 staff of East Georgia Regional Medical Center.
For the last 11 years, a ‘Thanksgiving Bag’ drive has become a very special event at EGRMC. This year they set a goal of filling 550 brown paper bags with a list of staples to complete a Thanksgiving meal. They exceeded their goal filling 667 meal bags.
The bags include mashed potatoes, gravy mix, stuffing, cranberry sauce, canned vegetables, cake mix, frosting, Jello and a bag of candy accompanied with a generous gift card for a meat of your choice.
This year the gift cards were from Food World. The bags have an approximate value of $40-$45 each. The total donations exceeds $27,000.
This is a FUN and wonderful project for all involved!
Lois Taylor, a long time volunteer with the auxiliary said, "The hospital staff, doctor's offices, clinics and neighbors were part of this project. I recall a patient leaving the hospital, asking about the bags on my desk. After explaining she asked to take an empty bag. In less than an hour, she came back with the FULL bag and a HUGE smile on his face."
WHAT A GIVING BUNCH!!
Jaime Riggs, Director of Marketing/EGRMC said, “The team at East Georgia Regional Medical Center believes in giving back to our community. We are grateful for the community support and recognize those in need especially during the holidays. Providing a simple bag of food can make Thanksgiving priceless for those facing challenges."
Let's share the history of the Thanksgiving bags. Brenda Steadman, a 15 year EGRMC Auxiliary volunteer, had this wonderful idea 11 years ago after visiting her mother's church. Brenda shared that they were filling bags and providing a turkey to those in need and she thought let's start that here at EGRMC. The first year they filled 11 bags with much excitement. She was there this week to to see her simple idea develop into 677 bags being picked up by Christian Social Ministry Ministries to be delivered and distributed on Monday morning.
John Long, CSM Director arrived with an 18 ft trailer to pick up 677 bags where he will distribute them at 31 North Zetterower on Monday, November 20, 2023 starting 8:00 am and will continue to 12:00 noon unless they run out earlier. Long said this is the biggest distribution of the year and with food costs stretching budgets this could not come at a better time. CSM is very liberal with distribution. Anyone who needs a Thanksgiving meal can come get in line. There are no financial requirements and no other required qualifications to receive this generous gift from EGRMC.
David Keene, EGRMC Auxiliary President said, "Talking about East Georgia Regional Medical Center is like talking about family especially when talking about the Thanksgiving bag event that was started 11 years ago. Each year around this time there is an air of excitement which seems to come over all the employees, staff and everyone connected to the hospital in any way. Even the patients get involved. What a joy to watch the generosity of our community."
Give thanks with a joyful heart this Thanksgiving season for individuals and organizations like the EGRMC Hospital Auxiliary. What a blessing they are to so many.
