Early Sunday morning, before Thanksgiving, a host of volunteers – DMV Cares, Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria (CCNA) and several others – gathered to do one thing: prepare Thanksgiving dinners for 125 neighbors and friends.
At Another Level Barber and Beauty Salon, on N Patrick St., volunteers lined up to unload SUVs, filled with donated turkeys and side dishes.
As they were passing by, members of the Alexandria Fire Department (AFD), Unit 205, saw the need for extra hands, stopped, and added theirs, to lend a helping hand. Lt. Kaandria Wilson, AFD stated, “We are pleased to help. Community service is what we do.”
Organized by DMV Cares, a collaboration of TC Williams High School graduates and friends, the project gained support from across the city.
“We want to give back,” stated Rick and Yvonne Wanzer, from Another Level, who let their shop be used as the distribution point. “We are fortunate to have a great network of friends, long time mentors and supporters who are willing to offer their support.”
Offering thanks from the city leadership, Councilman John Chapman, said, “Alexandria is indeed fortunate to have young leaders committed to supporting the community. “
Similar comments were echoed from Bill Cleveland and Cleo Greene of the Untouchables, and Gina Bruce, CCNA Program Manager. Both organizations are nonprofits committed to community service.
Detailed coordination was the key to success. Each Monday evening, for 6 weeks, DMV Cares met from 7:00-8:00 pm via zoom, to build a game plan to help as many families as possible.
Executed perfectly, the group not only supported a host of local families, but was also able to deliver meals to both FC Hammond and Jefferson Houston Middle Schools.
Brittany Fraser, Jefferson Houston’s Family Support Coordinator noted: “On behalf of our families, we thank you.”
Felicia Tolliver Johnson, Program Manager for CCNA’s Reach and Rise for Excellence Program, a tutoring and mentoring program at Hammond Middle School, said: “CCNA is a blessing to our students. Each year, they do more and more to help our families.”
As the day closed, Rick Wanzer took time to reflect. Speaking for the “Team”, he offered a simple and heartfelt thanks to the many neighborly helping hands including Fannie Allen, Allen Protocol and Leadership Institute, Paul Kentes, Alexandria Rotary Club, members of the Gang Seven Motorcycle Club, Jersey Mikes and Kyra Parker, TC Alum and CCNA volunteer.
Acknowledging the support and donations, COL Jim Paige of CCNA offered similar thanks to Pastors Carl and Valerie Shegog, Word Alive Family Worship Center, and St Joseph Catholic Church for their support. And a special thanks for the generous donations from CCNA board members and supporters, Alfred Street Baptist Church, Foundation for the Advancement of Music Education (FAME), the Page One Foundation and Premier Consultants, International, LLC.
“We are proud to be a part of this great effort and look forward to doing even more. We are thankful that our neighbors continue to help neighbors.”
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