644 Thanksgiving Meals Delivered to Homebound Seniors in Las Vegas! 11/29/2012
For the 10th year, parishioners at St. Thomas More Catholic Community in Henderson, NV delivered Thanksgiving dinners to homebound seniors. In all, they served 644 seniors, going to 395 homes — in senior apartment complexes, trailer parks and single family homes.
“It was our biggest numbers since we started,” said Dorothy Distel, director of More Youth and Religion Education at St. Thomas More. “There were 150 more than last year.”
They began the national day of thanks with a special Mass, celebrated by Fr. Patrick Render, CSV, pastor, before gathering for breakfast in the community center. Then, they got down to work. More than 300 families turned out to help. They call it, “God’s Love Overflowing While Serving” or GLOWS, as they deliver meals — with a helping of companionship during their visits.
“The concept is not to go fast, but to be a ministry of visitation,” Distel says. “It’s a wonderful parable of the loaves and fishes.”
Parish members worked with Hope Link of Southern Nevada to secure the names of seniors in the area who would not be going out.
“Since Meals on Wheels does not operate on Thanksgiving Day, we assume the task,” Fr. Render says. “We prepare hundreds of turkey dinners to deliver those who live alone or who are not able to get out of their homes to celebrate with family or friends.
“Delivering the meals might be the only visitors these folks might see on Thanksgiving Day,” Fr. Render adds. “The visits themselves become blessings both for the recipient as well as those who bring the meal.”