Dinner is served Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, 2012, at Corinthians Missionary Baptist Church, 2027 Peck Street, Muskegon Heights.
MUSKEGON, MI – You could feel the thankfulness at Thursday's annual free Thanksgiving dinner at Corinthians Missionary Baptist Church -- and it wasn't only from the diners.
Congregation members and other volunteers at the church at 2027 Peck Street in Muskegon Heights said helping people in need makes them thankful for their own blessings.
The founder of the feast was the church’s pastor emeritus, the Rev. Clarence Guy. Guy, now 65, started the tradition 22 years ago at the church’s former location.
“We have Thanksgiving every day,” Guy said, explaining why he started the dinners in 1990. “We wanted folks less fortunate than us to have Thanksgiving. So people sacrifice their day serving Thanksgiving dinner.
The Rev. Clarence Guy, pastor emeritus at Corinthians Missionary Baptist Church, 2027 Peck Street, Muskegon Heights, at the church's annual free Thanksgiving dinner, Nov. 22, 2012. Guy was the founder of the feast, starting the church's tradition in 1990.
“It makes my day,” Guy said. “I want to see everybody come together and make one big lovely community. If we can get something going in our community, who knows what can happen?”
Guy gestured at the mix of black and white people in the church, smiling as he called them “our multicultural family.”
“It’s been overwhelming, and it’s going to get better,” Guy said of participation over the years.
He retired from the pastorship five years ago, passing the mantle to his son, the Rev. Khi Guy. Now, “this is what I do all year, this and Christmas,” Clarence Guy said, referring to planning and organizing the church’s free dinners.
“He always said, ‘everybody doesn’t have family,’” Khi Guy said. “It’s a place for people to enjoy themselves and have a meal.”
The Rev. Khi Guy, pastor of Corinthians Missionary Baptist Church, 2027 Peck Street, Muskegon Heights. The church hosted its annual free Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 22, 2012.
The current pastor estimated more than 100 people had come to this year’s dinner, which started at 11 a.m. Attendance had dwindled by 1 p.m., but a few patrons still came in from time to time. None approached by a Muskegon Chronicle reporter wished to talk.
In addition to walk-ins served at the church, volunteers Thursday delivered an estimated 60 to 80 dinners to residents of Hartford Terrace, Columbia Courts and some nursing homes.
Elijher Noble, vice president of the church’s usher board, was among those ladling out food from the serving table. He said he does it “just to help the community.”
“You’ve got to give back at some point,” said server Jameshia Austin. The 22-year-old is working at the dinner for the fourth year in a row. “It’s been nice, it’s been fun. We do get busy. The people sit down, talk, have seconds. … Everybody smiles.”
Romelo Austin, 15, helps “because it makes me feel good when people come for something to eat and have as much as they want.” He said it makes him thankful “because I’ve always had something. Gotta give back.”
“We love people. We love ‘em,” said 17-year-old Jocquez Clay.