Byron Saunders Foundation collaborates to provide Thanksgiving meals to people in need

MOUNT VERNON – On Nov. 25, Knox County families and individuals in need can take part in a drive-through community Thanksgiving meal dubbed Together Thankful.

The Knox County chapter of the Byron Saunders Foundation (BSF) is collaborating with Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner Mount Vernon, Interchurch Social Services (ISS) and the Salvation Army (SA) to provide 1,500 pre-packaged meals to anyone with a voucher from the SA and ISS.

Ginny Williams, president and chairman of Knox County’s chapter of BSF, told Mount Vernon News about the foundation and their involvement in Together Thankful.

What is BSF and what is its mission in Knox County? 

Since 2002, BSF has provided meal boxes that feed four along with vouchers for meat from local grocers for the Thanksgiving holiday. 

In Knox County, Christmas garners plenty of help, but over Thanksgiving there is less available to people in need, Williams said. BSF intends to fill the gap between social services and church charities. Names to receive a meal are submitted anonymously and are not always based on income, but also on emotional and physical need.

What is your role at BSF?

"I specifically am part of creating the list, the names, the addresses, the phone numbers and coordinating pickups," Williams told the News. "We were over getting gravy from our state warehouse so I kind of coordinate between the state and the chapter."

How is BSF contributing to Together Thankful? 

Along with their usual meal box outreach, BSF will also distribute up to 100 Together Thankful vouchers to those who do not have the means to cook.

How does involvement with the event further BSF's mission?

Not everyone has the means to prepare their own meal, like the homeless or elderly; Williams said. By joining in with Together Thankful, BSF continues its undertaking to make sure no one falls through the cracks.

 "A lot of families are starting to feel housebound," she said. "I mean, it’s a terrible thing, but we just want to make sure everybody can be together as much as they can be for Thanksgiving and be thankful for what they have and not what they don't have."