Free Thanksgiving meal offered to those in need
A local natural gas drilling company is looking to give back to the community by offering a free Thanksgiving feast and winter clothing to those in need.
Rice Energy will be holding its first Plate of Plenty event Saturday afternoon at the Waynesburg Readiness Center that features a complimentary Thanksgiving meal for people in Greene County whose lives are challenged by poverty, illness, joblessness and homelessness. The dinner, which is scheduled to run from 1 to 4 p.m., already has more than 400 people registered to attend.
Rice Energy spokeswoman Kimberly Price said the idea for the event came from another volunteer opportunity where the company’s employees gave out free ice cream at a “touch-a-truck” event in Waynesburg over the summer.
“The volunteers came back to work on Monday and were moved by the children and young families that they met and served,” Price said. “They kept sharing how meaningful it was to volunteer at an event like that, so we decided to find another way to serve that specific group.”
The employees will once again be volunteering at the dinner and are already setting up and preparing traditional Thanksgiving dishes. On the menu is turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, green bean casserole, rolls, pie and ice cream.
“We are hoping this becomes an annual event,” Price said.
Volunteers will also be setting up a room dedicated to handing out gently used winter coats that have been donated by Rice Energy employees, their families and friends.
Price said she is expecting between 500 and 600 people to show up for the event.
“The response we have received has been overwhelmingly positive,”she said.
Registration for the meal is not required, but is encouraged to help for planning purposes.
“This is our way of giving back to those who don’t benefit directly from our oil and gas company very often and to help the underprivileged in the area,” Price said. “Our biggest hope is that it brings the community closer together.”
Corner Cupboard Food Bank Director Candace Tustin will also be at the event to hand out information about various programs offered in Greene County.
Transportation to the meal is also available at seven different locations across Greene County. For more information or to register for the event call, 855-258-8326 or go to www.plateofplenty2015.eventbrite.com.