Citizens Outreach serves local community (with photo gallery)

  When volunteers filled tables with food for a recent Thanksgiving feast, it marked the sixth holiday season that the Citizens of Crestview Outreach program has served the local community.

But the program is not limited to the holidays and volunteers reach out in a variety of ways to help others year round.

Click here to view photo gallery.

“I am just so thankful that we can help; people give to us and we give back to the people,” said Pearl Bess, a member of the Concerned Citizens group that teams with Okaloosa County Minority HIV Aids Task Force and local volunteers to make the outreach program a success.

The volunteers work together to serve a meal on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month near the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Booker Street. People are made aware of the program through word of mouth and local churches, according to Concerned Citizen’s President, Catherine Dortch.

 An average of 100 plates are served each time the group prepares a meal, with about 30 of those going to senior citizens, many of which live at the Crestview Housing Authority.

“The seniors at the housing authority are our biggest supporters,” Bess said. “They help us fund the food program to keep it going.”

At the Thanksgiving meal, the senior citizens’ plates were prepared first and volunteers delivered them throughout the local community. Others served those who had waited patiently in line for their meal. Unlike most weeks when the food is served near the street in carryout containers, picnic tables were provided in a nearby vacant lot for the holiday feast that came complete with turkey, dressing and all the trimmings.

“Pearl had a vision that this would be a sit down meal with a time of fellowship,’ explained Aids Task Force chairperson Tonsiaweda Hayes, whose organization provides money, food and volunteer time to the program.

The outreach program operates from a small building on Booker Street, where meals are served and donated clothing is available free to anyone in need. The use of the building and vacant lot is a donation from Bess’s brother, Jessie Larry. Both, Bess and Larry were influenced by their late mother, Mary Johnson, whose example of giving and helping others lead them to a life of giving back to their community.

The group operated with donated water from a neighbor’s home for many years but has recently saved enough money to install water and restrooms inside their building.

“It was a happy day when we got our water and restrooms,” Bess said with a smile.

      Volunteers have seen an increase in the numbers served by the outreach program during these difficult economic times. They stress that anyone who walks up is welcome. While Bess was shy about placing a donation jar on the table during the Thanksgiving meal, she did acknowledge that the organization operates solely on donations from individuals and a few local church groups.

      “I love doing this,” said volunteer Dorcas Scott, who recently learned about the program. “Its just an awesome blessing for the community.”