RACINE — Turkey dinners are on people's minds as we get closer to Thanksgiving. However, not everyone has access to that kind of a meal. It can be expensive. That's why local non-profit Orchestrating Good teamed up with the Racine Police Department and another local non-profit, The Main Project, to bring free Thanksgiving meals to those who might have missed out.
“We understand that this year is really challenging on so many levels but there is still hope to be had," Jessica Greb the founder of Orchestrating Good said.
Thanks to donations from around the community, they were able to fill 100 boxes full of Thanksgiving meals. Inside were chickens, turkeys, hams, cookies, vegetables, pies, stuffing, potatoes, and anything else you could think might be on a Thanksgiving table.
These boxes were tailored depending on the family's size. They prepped ingredients for families of up to 10 people. In total, 500 people will be fed this Thanksgiving.
"We’ll be able to give them a little bit of hope in the future and know that people out in their community truly care about them. And they deserve to have a wonderful Thanksgiving meal just as much as anybody else," Greb said.
Beyond the inherent positivity and necessity of providing people with meals like this, for the Racine Police Department, it was their way of connecting with the community.
"Opportunity to meet the kids in the neighborhood. Get to know them. Get them to see me as a person, Officer Simon, not as a cop," Officer Andrew Simon said.
In fact, Officer Simon was delivering meals to families that live in his neighborhood.
"That’s why we have our community-oriented policing houses in these neighborhoods. My house is right up the street. Because that’s always our goal, reach out to the families, develop relationships, and establish trust and communication," he said.
This holiday season is unlike any we have experienced before, and it's these kinds of actions that can make a huge impact on a family.
