Group working to get support on plan to feed homeless in area on Thanksgiving

SIKESTON -- It won't be loaves of bread and baskets of fishes, but the Rev. Deborah Young still hopes to create something of a miracle by helping feed the hungry on Thanksgiving Day.

Young, who is part of the Lion of Judah International Association of Ministries, is working to gather support for the group's project to offer a Thanksgiving meal for the homeless and homebound seniors in Cape Girardeau, Scott, Mississippi and New Madrid counties.

"We are committed to doing the will of God to individuals who are homeless and to homebound seniors," she said. "We just want to help out with the need that is already going on."

A not-for-profit organization, the Lion of Judah International Association of Ministries is a youth development ministry designed to serve middle school boys and girls in fourth through 12th grades as well as men of color through age 24 with its Judah's Men of Valor Initiative. Young described the group as fairly new to the area, incorporating in Cape Girardeau in 2011 and receiving its 501(c) status as a charity earlier this year.

Young's goal through the ministry is to provide programs to help young people develop leadership and academic skills. The program will offer lessons in health and more.

"We want to first establish a sense of compassion in these young people and let them know that if they care for someone else that same act of kindness will be returned 100 fold," she explained.

According to Young, the young participants will be involved in gathering and sorting items donated for the meal, assisting with the serving and, for some of the older members, delivering the meals to the homebound. Others are planning to provide music and ministry.

The meal will be served at its Cape Girardeau location, 627 Good Hope St. The group plans to provide a traditional Thanksgiving meal -- turkey, sweet potatoes, vegetables, stuffing and gravy along with sweet potato and pumpkin pies -- to about 100 individuals.

The group is looking for assistance from the local community. Young said food items or gift cards are needed. She hopes more adults will volunteer to assist with the cooking and delivery of the meals.

Those who would like to donate to the Thanksgiving meal can send gift cards to Lion of Judah International Association of Ministries, P.O. Box 1048, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-1049. Also items such as canned sweet potatoes, instant mashed potatoes, canned or packaged fruit, jars of gravy can be dropped off at 627 Good Hope St.

Those who are homebound and would like to have a meal delivered can contact Young at 573-979-3063 or Marvin McBride at 573-270-5289.

Doors for the meal will open at 11 a.m. on Nov. 22.

For more information about the youth development ministry, contact Young at 573-979-3063.