Gospel Light serves up meals for community

As most families celebrated Thanksgiving Day at home, Gospel Light Baptist Church members were busy serving up 1,600 meals for the community.

Gospel Light Baptist Church, 600 Garland Ave., was founded in 1992 by Eric Capaci, pastor, and his brother. They started serving Thanksgiving meals to 50 people, to families and people on the street that could not afford a Thanksgiving meal.

"We then thought, 'Why not feed those who work on Thanksgiving as well?'" Eric Capaci said.

The church extended its program from 50 to 1,200 meals last year. This year's goal was 1,300 meals.

Families and businesses received tickets and provided contact information, amount of meals needed and delivery times. Church volunteers would fill the orders, box them up and deliver them to the listed address. Local nursing homes, businesses open on Thanksgiving, law enforcement agencies, firefighters and other rescue services received meals.

"Volunteers showed up at 8:30 a.m. for kitchen duty," said Moe Capaci, who is the youth pastor. "Delivery volunteers started at 10 a.m. and a cleanup shift started at 1 p.m."

Gospel Light had around 125 volunteers turn out for the three shifts, some working all three. All prepared food was donated by the church, such as turkeys and pies. Canned goods and dressing were purchased through monetary donations.

"Two weeks prior to Thanksgiving, we would announce in church service the amount of turkeys and pies that we needed," Moe Capaci said. "People would raise their hands and tell us how much of each item they could donate."

After a delivery was made, volunteers would pick up residents who did not have anywhere to go on Thanksgiving Day and bring them to the cafeteria at Gospel Light. Some people walked to the cafeteria, stood in line and ate at the campus.

"My father picked up a man three years ago and brought him back to eat at the cafeteria," Moe Capaci said. "He was a man who graduated from the University of Texas and had let life slip away. He became a part-time staff member doing maintenance at the church. He'd come over to our house once a week and eat a meal with our family. He passed away Wednesday."

Gospel Light exceeded its goal and reached a total of 1,600 meals.

"The church has loved doing this for the community," Moe Capaci said.

Local on 11/27/2015

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