Friday, November 25, 2005
Braves trio happy to help those in need
11/24/2005
ATLANTA -- Braves stars Andruw Jones, Tim Hudson and Johnny Estrada have delivered before big crowds countless times during their careers.
It's doubtful they've delivered before a more appreciative crowd than Thursday afternoon at Turner Field.
The Braves trio joined a distinguished group that included Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox, Labor Commissioner Michael L. Thurmond and members of the Atlanta Hawks in helping serve nearly 15,000 people a Thanksgiving meal. The dinner, which took place on the Lexus Level at Turner Field, was sponsored by the Atlanta Braves Foundation and the Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless.
For Hudson and his wife, Kim, both of whom also participated in the Atlanta Braves Foundation's Second Annual Turkey Drop on Tuesday, this event was the latest way to continue to give back to those less fortunate in the Atlanta community.
"I'm spending the offseason here, so I'm able to come out and help whereever they need help," said Hudson. "Obviously [my wife, Kim and I] feel happy and honored by being able to do it. It's the same feeling being able to come out and help people that need some help and try to make their way a little better."
Jones, accompanied by his wife, Nicole, also was drawn to the Thanksgiving event by the opportunity to give something back.
"It's a good cause to come out here and feed homeless people and people who cannot have a really good Thanksgiving," he said. "Coming from a not-so-wealthy family and not having everything, to come out here and feed people is always something great. Just to show your appreciation, to come out and give your time to help other people."
Estrada was a last-minute participant, but was no less enthusiastic. He personified the volunteer spirit that makes events like the annual Feed the Hungry possible.
"I actually was on the Web site and I saw the advertisement for it, and I thought it would be great to come out for a couple of hours with my daughter," he said. "I brought my younger daughter with me. Today is about giving thanks for everything."
Named for its founder, the late civil rights activist and one of the closest associates to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Hosea L. Williams, Hosea Feed The Hungry & Homeless served its first dinner in Atlanta in 1971, serving 100 meals at Wheat Street Baptist Church.
This year marked the 35th year that HFTH has supplied food and aid to the homeless on Thanksgiving, and the eighth in which they've partnered with the Atlanta Braves Foundation. Exigent circumstances led organizers to open their doors even wider, seeking to assist those who were victimized by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Cargill Meat Solutions, producers of Honeysuckle White turkey products, donated 500 turkeys (9,250 pounds of meat) to the project as part of their "More To Share" program. Also on the menu was ham, green beans, corn, rice, yams, collard greens, stuffing, cranberry sauce and a variety of desserts.
"We will provide meals and services for over 40,000 people during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday and Easter, just as we have done in the past," said Elisabeth Omilami, HFTH co-director, who participated despite having been in the hospital the previous week. "This is a very special Thanksgiving. We've been wanting to do what we do better -- providing food, clothing, hot showers, free long-distance calling, reuniting families by buying bus tickets."
The way Omilami found to do it better was to work in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Labor and get people jobs, hiring them on the spot at the event.
"We're going to feed them today and help them feed themselves tomorrow and every day from now on," said Thurmond.
Omilami said that while providing relief to those hit by the hurricanes took a major toll on the organization's operating budget, HFTH is determined to continue.
She also thanked the many sponsors, which provided not only money, but "in-kind" contributions.
"We have depleted the HFTH year-round Care Center's Food Bank," she said. "Many of our yearly donors are saying that they have exhausted their HFTH funds because of these disasters. Nonetheless, HFTH is determined to continue to provide Atlanta with the annual holiday dinner events my parents, Hosea and Juanita T. Williams, created 35 years ago."
Cox expressed her admiration of foundation's efforts, especially the expeditious way they came through when natural disasters hit neighboring states, Louisiana and Florida. The organization provided food and toiletries to more than 6,000 survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and has placed some 55 hurricane survivors and their families in apartments, including $1,500 cash grants.
"This doesn't only happen on Thanksgiving," said Cox. "When Hurricane Katrina struck and people came into Atlanta, Hosea Feed the Hungry was there to feed the hungry at the time they were in crisis."
HFTH got a much-needed shot in the arm from Rev. Eddie Long, of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga., who gave a check for $100,000.
The event, which costs an estimated $150,000 to put on, also included a "Kids Corner," which had donated toys, books and school supplies for children, a Barber and Beauty Shop with hot showers, clean clothing and toiletries. Other benefits for those who came to Turner Field were free medical checkups, free long-distance calling (courtesy of Cingular Wireless and Verizon) to families and church services.
"It takes a whole lot to feed 15,000 people," Omilami said, commending her volunteers. "At Hosea Feed The Homeless, in the words of Ray Charles, 'We make it do what it do.'"
For more information on Hosea Feed the Hungry & Homeless call 404-755-3353 or long on to www.hoseafeedthehungry.com. Donations can be sent to Hosea Feed the Hungry & Homeless, P.O. Box 4672, Atlanta, Ga., 30302-4672.
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
ATLANTA -- Braves stars Andruw Jones, Tim Hudson and Johnny Estrada have delivered before big crowds countless times during their careers.
It's doubtful they've delivered before a more appreciative crowd than Thursday afternoon at Turner Field.
The Braves trio joined a distinguished group that included Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox, Labor Commissioner Michael L. Thurmond and members of the Atlanta Hawks in helping serve nearly 15,000 people a Thanksgiving meal. The dinner, which took place on the Lexus Level at Turner Field, was sponsored by the Atlanta Braves Foundation and the Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless.
For Hudson and his wife, Kim, both of whom also participated in the Atlanta Braves Foundation's Second Annual Turkey Drop on Tuesday, this event was the latest way to continue to give back to those less fortunate in the Atlanta community.
"I'm spending the offseason here, so I'm able to come out and help whereever they need help," said Hudson. "Obviously [my wife, Kim and I] feel happy and honored by being able to do it. It's the same feeling being able to come out and help people that need some help and try to make their way a little better."
Jones, accompanied by his wife, Nicole, also was drawn to the Thanksgiving event by the opportunity to give something back.
"It's a good cause to come out here and feed homeless people and people who cannot have a really good Thanksgiving," he said. "Coming from a not-so-wealthy family and not having everything, to come out here and feed people is always something great. Just to show your appreciation, to come out and give your time to help other people."
Estrada was a last-minute participant, but was no less enthusiastic. He personified the volunteer spirit that makes events like the annual Feed the Hungry possible.
"I actually was on the Web site and I saw the advertisement for it, and I thought it would be great to come out for a couple of hours with my daughter," he said. "I brought my younger daughter with me. Today is about giving thanks for everything."
Named for its founder, the late civil rights activist and one of the closest associates to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Hosea L. Williams, Hosea Feed The Hungry & Homeless served its first dinner in Atlanta in 1971, serving 100 meals at Wheat Street Baptist Church.
This year marked the 35th year that HFTH has supplied food and aid to the homeless on Thanksgiving, and the eighth in which they've partnered with the Atlanta Braves Foundation. Exigent circumstances led organizers to open their doors even wider, seeking to assist those who were victimized by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Cargill Meat Solutions, producers of Honeysuckle White turkey products, donated 500 turkeys (9,250 pounds of meat) to the project as part of their "More To Share" program. Also on the menu was ham, green beans, corn, rice, yams, collard greens, stuffing, cranberry sauce and a variety of desserts.
"We will provide meals and services for over 40,000 people during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday and Easter, just as we have done in the past," said Elisabeth Omilami, HFTH co-director, who participated despite having been in the hospital the previous week. "This is a very special Thanksgiving. We've been wanting to do what we do better -- providing food, clothing, hot showers, free long-distance calling, reuniting families by buying bus tickets."
The way Omilami found to do it better was to work in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Labor and get people jobs, hiring them on the spot at the event.
"We're going to feed them today and help them feed themselves tomorrow and every day from now on," said Thurmond.
Omilami said that while providing relief to those hit by the hurricanes took a major toll on the organization's operating budget, HFTH is determined to continue.
She also thanked the many sponsors, which provided not only money, but "in-kind" contributions.
"We have depleted the HFTH year-round Care Center's Food Bank," she said. "Many of our yearly donors are saying that they have exhausted their HFTH funds because of these disasters. Nonetheless, HFTH is determined to continue to provide Atlanta with the annual holiday dinner events my parents, Hosea and Juanita T. Williams, created 35 years ago."
Cox expressed her admiration of foundation's efforts, especially the expeditious way they came through when natural disasters hit neighboring states, Louisiana and Florida. The organization provided food and toiletries to more than 6,000 survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and has placed some 55 hurricane survivors and their families in apartments, including $1,500 cash grants.
"This doesn't only happen on Thanksgiving," said Cox. "When Hurricane Katrina struck and people came into Atlanta, Hosea Feed the Hungry was there to feed the hungry at the time they were in crisis."
HFTH got a much-needed shot in the arm from Rev. Eddie Long, of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga., who gave a check for $100,000.
The event, which costs an estimated $150,000 to put on, also included a "Kids Corner," which had donated toys, books and school supplies for children, a Barber and Beauty Shop with hot showers, clean clothing and toiletries. Other benefits for those who came to Turner Field were free medical checkups, free long-distance calling (courtesy of Cingular Wireless and Verizon) to families and church services.
"It takes a whole lot to feed 15,000 people," Omilami said, commending her volunteers. "At Hosea Feed The Homeless, in the words of Ray Charles, 'We make it do what it do.'"
For more information on Hosea Feed the Hungry & Homeless call 404-755-3353 or long on to www.hoseafeedthehungry.com. Donations can be sent to Hosea Feed the Hungry & Homeless, P.O. Box 4672, Atlanta, Ga., 30302-4672.
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
