FORT PIERCE, FL--Despite a series of setbacks involving tents, tableware and turkeys, Stacy Malinowski has faith that the 18th annual Thanksgiving Day Community Feast will go on as scheduled on Nov. 22.
"The people will make it happen," said Malinowski, program director for Mustard Seed Ministries and the driving force behind the feast that feeds thousands each year. "They always have."
First, Malinowski learned the local church that has always donated large tents for the feast at Orange Avenue and Ninth Street in downtown Fort Pierce has given the tents away to a group starting a mission.
Rather than rent tents for about $15,000, she bought one for $9,000. It's an investment that's put a serious dent in the project's $10,000 to $12,000 annual budget. She also arranged to rent two smaller tents, plus the tables and chairs needed for the feast, from a local catering business, at a discount rate of about $3,100.
Then, on Halloween, she got a double scare.
Citing a sluggish economy, the company that's always donated paper and plastic products for the feast — everything from foam serving trays to napkins to tableware to aluminum roasting pans — said it couldn't come through this year.
Also, a Palm Beach County program that usually donates about 250 turkeys for the feast can commit to only about 80 because of increased demand.
"I truly understand the current economic situation that businesses and families are in," said Malinowski, who's work at the nonprofit Mustard Seed involves helping the area's neediest people find food, clothing and housing. "We're having a significant increase in requests for help. I just hope that those who can afford to help out will step forward."
Malinowski expects about 6,000 people will take part in the feast — 2,000 at the downtown site and another 4,000 through deliveries to the elderly, the disabled and other shut-ins.
LEND A HAND
Here's what organizers need to make this year's Thanksgiving Day Community Feast a reality:
• Turkeys. About 650 birds are needed to feed the 6,000 people expected to take part in the feast.
• Cash. About $10,000 is needed to make up for the loss of the donated tents and paper and plastic products.
• Volunteers. Each year about 1,000 people help with cooking, site preparation, deliveries and site clean-up.
Here's how you can help out:
• Make checks out to Mustard Seed Ministries, with "Thanksgiving" in the memo line, and mail to Mustard Seed at P.O Box 3612, Fort Pierce, FL 34948.
• Gift cards to local grocery stores are preferred over donations of frozen turkeys. Drop them off at the Mustard Seed office and thrift store, 3130 S. U.S. 1 in Fort Pierce, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
• Call (772) 465-6021 Tuesday through Friday to volunteer or get information.
