MILLVILLE - Just two minutes into Bethel AME Church's annual Thanksgiving meal, there wasn't a seat left in the house.

Every chair at every table was filled, while more eager diners lined up at the entrance for their chance to get a seat. The first diners, a crowd of about 200, had started lining up at the church's doors two hours earlier.

By the time the meal concluded late in the afternoon, 658 turkey dinners, complete with all the trimmings, had been served.

The Rev. Charles Wilkins, who runs the county's largest soup kitchen, said the church was prepared to serve 700 people. Last year, the church served 500 Thanksgiving meals. Wilkins knew to expect more this year.

"A lot of the people we're serving this year are working families," he said. "It makes sense. Everyone's trying to stretch their dollar as far as they can."

In October, Bethel, which operates a soup kitchen four days a week, served 3,800 meals. For the whole year, the church is on pace to serve at least 30 percent more meals than it did last year.

City resident Kerry Allen held the doors for people coming and going as he waited for his children to arrive. Things are different this year, and programs such as Bethel's Thanksgiving meal are desperately needed for the health of the community, he said.

"Middle class, poor class, rich class. It doesn't matter. Everybody needs help right now," Allen said.

Wilkins said the recession has increased the number of needy, but that the number of programs, volunteers and churches willing to lend a hand has increased as well.

The Bethel Development Corp. has several programs, such as GED courses and various job-searching efforts, that attract more people to the meal services.

Marcus Kennedy, of Pittsgrove Township, is one of those people. Although it's not the closest resource, Kennedy said he was referred to the church's programs by friends and has found the help he needs.

The way he perceives help has changed, too.

"At first I said, ‘No.' My pride wouldn't let me come," Kennedy said of eating meals at the church. "But once I came here and saw what they were doing, I got it.

"Some of the people here, they don't even know how much this whole thing means to the community."

Wilkins said the Development Corp.'s office will field more than a hundred calls over the next month from people who participated in the dinner or know someone who did. Some will ask about the other programs, some will ask about the church and some will offer their services to volunteer, he said.

The volunteer base is what Wilkins credited for helping sustain and grow the various food programs. Parishioners spooned out portions onto plates as the St. Augustine Prep high school wrestling team served food to the tables. A couple of local artists collected trash, while Millville Police Chief Ed Grennon and Mayor Tim Shannon washed dishes in the kitchen.

"Most of what we're able to accomplish is because we have so many volunteers," Wilkins said. "We're trying to get county-wide collaboration. I guarantee you we could feed the entire county if only we can work together."

By EDWARD VAN EMBDEN Staff Writer | Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Contact Edward Van Embden:
856-649-2072
EVanEmbden@pressofac.com