FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — This Thanksgiving, churches and organizations are ensuring everyone in the community has a meal to enjoy. Cross Pointe Community Church in Tontitown fed over 100 people at 7hills Homeless Center on Nov. 28.
For the past five years, feeding the clients of 7hills has become an annual tradition. However, one church volunteer emphasized their efforts extend beyond Thanksgiving.
"We don't just show up on Thanksgiving Day. We actually show up every Wednesday and bring breakfast, lunch, and dinner," Allen Dietzchold said. "We're just here being the hands and feet of Christ and doing everything we can to serve this community."
Thanks to the support of the church congregation, they were able to serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal with turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, casserole, and dessert. Volunteers prepared enough food to ensure everyone could have seconds if they wanted.
"Our church actually supports that," Dietzchold said. "They take donations at the church, and people donate routinely to that ministry specifically. So we gather it up, we buy the food, we cook it on Tuesday nights. Typically, it arrives here Wednesday morning. In this case, it was a little different."
This year, their outreach went beyond food.
"It's even taken another step this year," Dietzchold said. "One of our couples that helped serve here has actually brought a trailer full of sleeping bags, gloves, hats, and so on, so we're getting to do even more than just serve food here today. It's a blessing to get to be here."
7hills client Sammy Siedert said she still has joy and gratitude despite not having anywhere to go.
"I am grateful for all the people that are here. I know them. I'm grateful for the meal we had. It was amazing. and I'm just grateful to be alive," Siedert said.
Siedert, who has been homeless for four years now, began coming to 7hills about a year ago.
"I'm actually from Hobbes, New Mexico. I lost my husband of 35 years, and it landed me on the street," Siedert said.
Her journey brought her to Branson with her son, but circumstances became even more challenging.
"I had a vehicle. I had two animals. I got to Springfield, Missouri, and I lost everything," she said. "They stole my car. I lost both my animals. Lady said she'd take care of them. I never saw them again. My son went to jail, so it landed me on the street."
For Siedert, 7hills has been a lifeline, giving her hope and a reason to feel grateful.
"When I was in Bentonville, I was hungry every day. But, here in Fayetteville at 7hills [are] great people. They know me very well. They do nothing but try and help, and it's amazing," she said. "Today was the most amazing."
After she enjoyed her Thanksgiving meal, she was able to keep a sleeping bag and the supplies she needed to stay warm for the night.
"This time I'm going to make it, I'm going to get off the street," Siedert said.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.