GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — More than 2,000 people gathered in Grand Rapids on Thanksgiving for a warm community meal from Mel Trotter Ministries.
The annual Mel Trotter Thanksgiving Community Meal takes place every Thanksgiving and this year the preparation for the meal began at 5 a.m.
Hundreds of volunteers served over 180 turkeys to people at DeVos Place Thursday.
In addition to the more than 500 volunteers, staff from Mel Trotter and the Gilmore Collection also helped with the community meal.
"Its wonderful to see that quite honestly. Just to see the joys, and all of the conversations, and the hustle and bustle of flipping over the tables and greeting people, and having people sit and enjoy their meal. Its just a beautiful thing. Its a wonderful opportunity to have gratitude, for the community and gratitude for all of our donors, and all of our volunteers that spend their time on thanksgiving to make this happen," said President of Mel Trotter Ministries Adrienne Goodstal.
During the event, coats were also given away for free from Mel Trotter's annual coat drive to keep people warm this winter.
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