For most people, Thanksgiving is a day to be able to eat food, engage with family, but also have the day off as they enjoy sleeping in. However, the students, staff, and faculty of Ross Medical Education Center in Roosevelt Park, Michigan decided to forego sleeping in this year. Instead, they gathered together at Reeths-Puffer High School bright and early Thanksgiving morning to participate in the Salvation Army’s Turkey Run.
Volunteers from all over the Muskegon area donated their time that morning at Reeths-Puffer High School for the Salvation Army’s Turkey Run. This isn’t your typical run though; the participants traveled around delivering warm meals to families in need. For almost 20 years, the Turkey Run has been giving the Muskegon community an opportunity to deliver food to residents in need of not only a Thanksgiving dinner, but simply a warm meal.
With over 2,000 meals to deliver, the dedication of every volunteer was essential to the success of the Turkey Run. Roosevelt Park’s Campus Director Lisa Picard was so happy that Ross Medical was able to be a part of this incredible event. During the morning, each volunteer, or group of volunteers, is designated a specific location in the Muskegon area. Instead of driving several different directions, being in one specific area allows the Turkey Run to run more efficiently than before. The volunteers were given addresses of those in need of a Thanksgiving meal and then received bags of hot packaged meals that consisted of turkey, potatoes, beans, yams, and rolls. From there they started the “Turkey Run” as they drove to homes in the community and hand delivered these meals to the doorsteps of those in need.
Ross Medical was thrilled to have 24 individuals participating. Throughout the morning, members of the Salvation Army thanked the Campus Director and staff for being such a supportive organization in the community and really showing that they care, not only in their words, but also through our actions. Roosevelt Park Medical Assistant program Instructor Katie Horfall brought her daughter Taylor who was also celebrating her 8th birthday. Captain Dan Sawka initiated the crowd of over a thousand to sing “Happy Birthday” to Taylor which made the day even better. Lisa Picard, Campus Director stated, “it felt so good to be able to give to those that have no families, are disabled, or have no money or food for Thanksgiving – a holiday that everyone deserves. To know that the campus staff and students would give up their own time to come so early makes me incredibly proud of the culture we have at the Roosevelt Park campus and I am so happy to be a part of that.”