Macon Rotarians bring Thanksgiving to families in need

On Saturday morning, Tom Woodbery pulled out of Riverside Ford and Lincoln on what has become an annual Thanksgiving tradition for him and fellow members of the Rotary Club of Downtown Macon.

In his back seat and trunk he had boxes of Thanksgiving feasts for two families in need. Within a few minutes, he was over in a public housing area off Eisenhower Parkway at the front door of Turkesha Pete and her seven children.

His deliveries were among 120 made Saturday by Rotary members and helpers, including the Warner Robins Jeep Club. Each year members buy food and bring it to a designated location to be boxed up and delivered to families that have been identified by various nonprofit groups.

Sometimes, Woodbery said, he doesn't find anyone home when he tries to make the delivery, even though the recipients are given reminder phone calls beforehand to be home. Other times people give a simple thank you, but not much else.

But Saturday was one to remember, he said. Pete's children surrounded the box of goods and probed through it as excitedly as if it was an early Christmas present.

They asked their mom if they could go ahead and try some of it, especially the pecan pie, but she said it would have to wait until Thanksgiving. The holiday is particularly special to Pete because she was named after it. She was born a week before Thanksgiving, which is why her mother named her Turkesha.

She was very appreciative of the gift.

"It means a lot to me," she said. "I can feed my family and we will have a great Thanksgiving."

Not far from Pete's home, Woodbery made his second delivery to the home of Daneisha Robinson and her four children. They weren't quite as animated, but Robinson was clearly moved by the gift.

"I really thank God because I was wondering how we was going to get Thanksgiving," she said.

Patrick Goff, the president of the Rotary Club of Downtown Macon, said the event started in 2005 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rotary. It was called "Feed 100 Families" then but since that time a few more families have been added each year. They calculated the boxes this year will feed about 1,000 people. Other groups and churches help out each year.

"It helps us carry out one of our mottoes in Rotary and that's 'service above self,' " Goff said. "It's our signature project that everybody gets behind and takes part in."

Woodbery has been doing the deliveries since he joined the club six years ago. He helps two families each year and by going to the homes and seeing the people himself, he said he appreciates that there is a need.

"I just enjoy the fellowship and doing something good for somebody who can use a little bit of help," said Woodbery, a banker. "Obviously these people are struggling to make ends meet."

This story was originally published November 21, 2015 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Macon Rotarians bring Thanksgiving to families in need ."