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People Loving People raising money to bring 278th soldiers home for Christmas

ROGERSVILLE — The dishes have barely dried for the People Loving People (PLP) free Thanksgiving dinner last week, and the Rogersville organization is already on to its next project: raising money to help bring soldiers with the 278th home for Christmas before they are deployed to Iraq

Prior to their deployment to Iraq, 28 members of the Tennessee National Guard based in Rogersville go to Camp Shelby in Mississippi early this month but will have the opportunity to return home Dec. 21-27.

PLP founder Dr. Blaine Jones noted, however, that soldiers will have to pay for their transportation to and from Camp Shelby.

“Several Kingsport groups and businesses raised approximately $5,000 for the local 278th and the Kingsport division to be able to return home for the holidays,” Jones said. “Many of the affected troops, however, are not able to afford the price of the return ticket back to Camp Shelby. When contacts were made with the 278th’s Sgt. Billy Reed as to what could be done for the local members, he suggested that funding a return trip for the soldiers may be all that could be done.

“The return bus ticket back to Camp Shelby is $65 and there are 28 members who need assistance. I hope to be able to raise around $2,000. This would buy each one of them a return ticket and give them a small amount of money to buy a meal or some snacks on their return trip.”

For the past six years, PLP primarily focused on providing a free Thanksgiving meal in Rogersville each year to those in need.

Jones said he felt assisting local soldiers in enjoying the Christmas holiday with their families fits perfectly with the organization’s mission.

Donations can be made to People Loving People, P.O. Box 91, Rogersville, TN 37857. Jones said people can write in “278th Troops” to designate their donation for this cause. For more information contact contact Jones at 272-3150.

During last week’s free Thanksgiving dinner, PLP shattered its 2008 record of 1,400 meals served.

Jones said the lion’s share of the credit goes to the 350 volunteers for this year’s event, another PLP record.

“We served 1,853 meals as best we could count, and that is the most we have ever served,” Jones said. “I am so proud of Rogersville and the surrounding community for coming forward to make sure this dinner came off without any major problems. Most of all I want to thank God for providing a means for us to continue this dinner.”

The Sullivan Baptist Association Disaster Relief Mobile Kitchen began preparing the majority of the meal on Wednesday, with 60 turkeys cooking at one time at Joseph Rogers Primary School.

Another food-preparation crew came in for relief just after midnight, and by 7 a.m. Thursday, the meal was ready to be served.

Volunteers delivered 1,458 meals, and another 395 meals were served at the school.

The menu included approximately 1,200 pounds of turkey, 1,000 pounds of ham, 800 pounds of green beans, 800 pounds of corn, 800 pounds of mashed potatoes, 700 pounds of sweet potatoes, 500 pounds of cranberry sauce, 700 pounds of dressing and 60 gallons of gravy.

Volunteers provided an assortment of desserts to compliment 20 cases of pumpkin pies acquired for the event.

Jones said they were prepared to serve 2,000 meals, and leftovers were split between the Of One Accord Ministry food pantry and a local nursing home.

PLP is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, and 100 percent of contributions designated for the free Thanksgiving dinner are used to pay for food and services involved with the event. Donations are already being accepted for the 2010 dinner at People Loving People, P.O. Box 91, Rogersville, TN 37857.

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I have recently relocated to the Rogersville area to be a support and help to my daughter-in-law with their two young sons, as my youngest son gets deployed soon to Iraq with the 278 Guard Unit. If I personally could, I would, so I implore anyone who reads this to PLEASE assist, if you can, to help bring my son and his fellow unit members home for Christmas?
There are many of us whom have served in the military, and many veterans are also members of the local Legion, Amvets or VFW's. Please get the word out and let's bring our guys home one more time before sending them overseas.
Also, I would like to find more information on what support systems are in place locally for our military families, for while their partners are deployed. Thank you all and Merry Christmas!

Sharon Wisner | 12/1/2009 - 1:48 PM - (Suggest Removal )

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