On Thanksgiving morning, the spirit of community soared in Arlington as Mission Arlington, a local nonprofit, together with an influx of volunteers, worked tirelessly to deliver over 7,000 holiday meals to those in need throughout North Texas. The annual event, a tradition tracing its roots back to 1986, saw vehicles lining up to be loaded with a savory spread of pre-made Thanksgiving dishes.
Founded by Tillie Burgin and with help from her late husband, Bob, Mission Arlington has grown from modest beginnings into an organization capable of immense outreach. Even with growing food insecurity concerns amplified by a recent government shutdown affecting SNAP benefits, the volunteers, ranging from city officials to ordinary residents, came together in exemplary form, reported FOX4 News. Among them was Jeff Ausdemore, who, by early morning, had already delivered 40 meals and was gearing up for another 24, an “act of service” that resonated with the holiday’s spirit of giving.
Simultaneously, the Arlington Taste Community Restaurant, an establishment with a pay-as-you-can model, held its first Thanksgiving service this year. The restaurant is part of Taste Project, a nonprofit initiative started by Jeff Williams to create a welcoming space for those in need. Williams described the restaurant’s opening on Thanksgiving as a continuation of a dream “that I thought God was leading me to do”, he told Fort Worth Report. Taste Project is known for tackling food insecurity in a manner that removes the stigma and judgment often associated with traditional food aid services…