Pulling together for Thanksgiving in the Park

Shelly Dugas, a pastor at Repairers of the Breach 5 Fold Ministries, said her church tries to do something each year to give back to the community.

On Saturday, that ministry was Thanksgiving in the Park at McMillian Park, held in conjunction with the city of Lake Charles’ Partners in Parks initiative.

“The members all pulled together and just wanted to make something happen for our community and give back,” Dugas said. “We have joined together with Mayor Nic Hunter and have been working with Ms. Helen Lewis, director of recreation and parks, to help draw people in the community out of their homes and into this area for something positive.”

Dugas said volunteers were ready to feed more than 200 people with hot meals prepared by Ryan’s Family Restaurant “and some of the ladies from our church prepared some awesome Patti Labelle pies that I can’t wait to try.”

She said the city provided a fun jump and train ride and church members served popcorn and cotton candy, hosted a clothing giveaway and offered face painting for the children.

All the effort didn’t go unnoticed by Britney Wilson.

“They’re really trying,” Wilson said. “It’s not like how it used to be back in the day. I can see a change in the community and it’s a good thing that the church is doing.”

Monique Fox, a member of the church, said that for some, the meal being provided would be their only food for the day.

“There are so many people that we see homeless and hungry every day,” she said. “It’s better to give than to receive and the Lord is going bless everybody tenfold for being part of this.”””

Members of Repairers of the Breach 5 Fold Ministries passed out hot meals Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 prepared by Ryan’s Family Restaurant during Thanksgiving in the Park at McMillian Park. The city of Lake Charles provided a fun jump and train ride, and the church provided popcorn and cotton candy, as well as a clothing giveaway for members of the community. (Rick Hickman/Lake Charles American Press)

Rick HickmanRickHickmanPhotographer
https://www.americanpress.com/content/tncms/avatars/6/d3/ea1/6d3ea1c8-3a6c-11e7-a1c2-0f91a5883b36.b31acdd1ef972ec0a2acb8ea5b28d153.png
””

Members of Repairers of the Breach 5 Fold Ministries passed out hot meals Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 prepared by Ryan’s Family Restaurant during Thanksgiving in the Park at McMillian Park. The city of Lake Charles provided a fun jump and train ride, and the church provided popcorn and cotton candy, as well as a clothing giveaway for members of the community. (Rick Hickman/Lake Charles American Press)

Rick HickmanRickHickmanPhotographer
https://www.americanpress.com/content/tncms/avatars/6/d3/ea1/6d3ea1c8-3a6c-11e7-a1c2-0f91a5883b36.b31acdd1ef972ec0a2acb8ea5b28d153.png
””

Members of Repairers of the Breach 5 Fold Ministries passed out hot meals Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 prepared by Ryan’s Family Restaurant during Thanksgiving in the Park at McMillian Park. The city of Lake Charles provided a fun jump and train ride, and the church provided popcorn and cotton candy, as well as a clothing giveaway for members of the community. (Rick Hickman/Lake Charles American Press)

Rick HickmanRickHickmanPhotographer
https://www.americanpress.com/content/tncms/avatars/6/d3/ea1/6d3ea1c8-3a6c-11e7-a1c2-0f91a5883b36.b31acdd1ef972ec0a2acb8ea5b28d153.png

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