CORRECTION: For the 2024 Giveaway, the Ark Church of Salina is giving out groceries to 800 vehicles. The original story said the event would only hand out groceries to 600 cars.
By SALINA POST
Approximately 800 families will receive free groceries this Thanksgiving, thanks to a generous giveaway hosted by The Ark Church in Salina. The event will take place on Saturday morning, Nov. 23, at Dean Evans Stadium, 851 Markley Road.
Each participating car will receive a variety of groceries, including chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, cereal, potatoes, bread, peanut butter, ground beef, pizzas, canned corn, peaches, bottled water, and more.
2023 Thanksgiving Meal Giveaway Video Courtesy The Ark Church Salina Youtube Channel.
The initiative is part of The Ark Church’s mission to serve the community and live out the words of Isaiah 58:10: "Feed the hungry and help those in trouble."
Paisley Millspaugh, the Operations Director at The Ark Church, said the decision to increase the giveaway from 600 to 800 vehicles is a testament to the congregation, church Pastors John Huseman and his wife, Lindsay.
"Last year, unfortunately, we did have to turn some cars away. It just broke our hearts to see us turn cars away. Pastor John told our congregation this year, 'We want to do 800 cars. We believe we can do this.' And we were able to get enough funds to pay for 800 vehicles," Millspaugh said.
It costs roughly $120 to sponsor two weeks' worth of groceries. Millspaugh said the church purchases through a food wholesaler. In total, the giveaway is expected to benefit 4,000 people. With the help of congregation members at The Ark Church of Salina, the church raised the roughly $96,000 needed to purchase food for 800 vehicles.
About 500 volunteers will meet at 8:00 a.m. to bless the food and gather before staffing their stations. Millspaugh said finding volunteers for this giveaway is not difficult.
"We opened up our app for volunteers to sign up, and it shows all the different volunteer opportunities. There are 500 spots. They were filled in under a week," Millspaugh said. "Pastors John and Lindsay love the community so much, and that is seen in everything that they do and say. I think the congregation has learned from them, but they also want to love our community just as well. That desire is a little bit contagious. This is not something you hear of or see often in our communities, especially outreaches of this size."
Food distribution will begin at 8:45 a.m. with 20 serving stations. Event organizers recommend arriving before 8:45 a.m. because the line will grow in length quickly.
"It's just so amazing to see all the volunteers gather and we huddle, and then they just start walking to their lines. We have had people say. 'It gives me chills to see that and see the group dispersed that way,'" Millspaugh said. "If you're in need, and you see all these people show up to help you and stand out in the cold or stand out in the rain or the snow, or whatever the case may be, because we're there rain or shine — that there's a level of hope. It so much more than food."
Need to Knows about the giveaway:
Only one portion of groceries per car
There is no delivery or holding back of groceries if someone does not have a car
Those interested in sponsoring a family can find more information through the church's website or social media channels. Donations of $120 are being accepted to sponsor a family, helping to cover the cost of the groceries provided.