Mozel Sanders Thanksgiving Dinner is family tradition
David Pierson and his family joined an army of volunteers that packaged meals to be delivered to about 40,000 people.
David Pierson and his family spent Thanksgiving morning at Butler University helping package meals that were delivered to homes of the less fortunate.
Pierson, his wife, Jennifer, and their sons and nephews showed up bright and early on Thanksgiving Day at the university's Atherton Union, as they have for the past 18 years.
"We've been so blessed," Pierson said. "This is our chance to give back to the less fortunate."
The event draws hundreds of volunteers. Work begins shortly before Thanksgiving Day, when calls from people in need of a meal start coming in. An army of volunteers prepares the food and places it in Styrofoam boxes. Another group packages the meals for delivery to 45 satellite locations, primarily churches and neighborhood centers, across Central Indiana.
The tradition began in the 1970s when the Rev. Mozel Sanders first served holiday meals to a few neighborhood residents at Mount Vernon Baptist Church on the city's Westside. Now in its 44th year, the annual Mozel Sanders Thanksgiving Dinner feeds about 40,000 people every year.
"Nobody should go unfed. Nobody should go without a meal, especially on Thanksgiving Day," said Stephanie Sanders-Young, Mozel Sanders' daughter-in-law.
On the menu this year are pulled chicken — no turkey — stuffing, gravy, green beans, apple crisps and dinner rolls. Heather Shackley, a volunteer, said they opted to serve chicken instead because of the Avian flu.
Pierson's oldest son, Isaiah, 25, has been volunteering with his parents for as long as he can remember.
"As a family, we do get a wonderful feeling, very inspirational," he said.
Pierson's nephew Eris Page, 14, said he always feels great after he's done volunteering because he's helped a lot of people.
Pierson said they would head over to his mother's house for their Thanksgiving dinner.
Then, they would watch the movie "Creed," a new spinoff of Sylvester Stallone's "Rocky."
Call Star reporter Kristine Guerra at (317) 444-6209. Follow her on Twitter: @kristine_guerra.