Heather Bell
RADFORD – Radford’s elementary schools, sheriff’s department and the RADical Change Commission recently bestowed Thanksgiving feasts on hundreds of Radford families with the help of generous contributions from city businesses and residents.
McHarg Elementary and Belle Heth Elementary schools collected and distributed 100 Thanksgiving food baskets after the school put out a call for donated baskets or funds to purchase items at the beginning of November.
“Within a week, school employees, parents, and community members answered the call with 100 donated turkeys and food baskets for those that requested one,”according to the school administration. Principal Tara Grant said this year is a particularly tough one for Radford families.
“This is our fifth year giving out food baskets to help our families celebrate Thanksgiving,”said Grant. “It is one way to help the families of the kids we teach and love. This is a very difficult time in the world. If this one act of kindness, of giving, helps relieve stress and anxiety in order for the family to share great memories, then we did what we set out to do.”
“We are role models for our students,”she continued. “We want them to be community servants and help our community just like we are doing for them. “
Belle Heth teacher Heather Rowland, who helped load food baskets in cars,said the gratitude was evident from the families who received a basket.
“Parents were overjoyed with each basket of food and turkey that we placed in their cars,”said Rowland. “They were so appreciative and even a few had tears in their eyes.”
Quest Diagnostics donated a Thanksgiving basket to the Good Morning Radford seniors of the Radford Sheriff’s Office.
“It was was packed with everything needed for a Thanksgiving Feast,” according to the sheriff’s department. “Sheriff Armentrout and The Radford Sheriff’s Office were excited to donate Thanksgiving meal baskets to our seniors. The Sheriff offers a special thanks to Shannon Linkous, Gary and Kat Daily, and Quest Diagnostics for spearheading this wonderful community service initiative.”
The RADical Change Commission’s #ProjectGivingThanks was another successful effort to provide Thanksgiving feasts.
“With the help of our village, we were able to serve 40 hard working families across our community,” reads a statement from the Commission. “Our community fills us up and full hearts and full tummies are incredible blessings to give thanks for together as we reflect on the meaning of this holiday.”
Sponsors included: Blacksburg Junior Women’s Club, 401 Peer Center, First Baptist on Third, Jubilee Christian Center (JCC) and New River Community Action’s Headstart program.