Local organizations unite for second year to provide holiday meal for people in need

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Thanksgiving dinner will come early this year for patrons of the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen.

Community Compassion Network is partnering with Mount Pleasant Community Church and the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen to put together a Thanksgiving dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday at the soup kitchen, 621 S. Adams St.

A traditional Thanksgiving dinner will be served, including baked and deep fried turkey, potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberries, pumpkin pie and other desserts.

Brian Horanoff started the event seven years ago at Labor Ready, before its closure, as an outreach to its at-risk workers. He wanted to continue the event at the local soup kitchen.

“We cook lots of food to make sure everyone leaves with some leftovers,” Horanoff said.

This will be the event’s second year at the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen.

Executive Director of Isabella Community Soup Kitchen Genny Sobaski gave CCN permission to hold the event at the soup kitchen.

“The patrons enjoy an extra meal,” Sobaski said. “We’re really thankful the Mount Pleasant community is doing this for our patrons.”

Food will be provided and cooked by volunteers from Mount Pleasant Community Church and CCN will provide leadership, said Danielle Ismirle, CCN Board Chair and Soup Kitchen liaison.

Twenty-nine percent of Isabella County residents are at or below the poverty level, so people struggle with providing food for their families, Ismirle said.

“We are providing them with the Thanksgiving experience that most of us may take for granted,” she said. “This is one of the few days each year that the soup kitchen provides three meals in one day for their guests.”

Last year, Mount Pleasant Community Church volunteers served about 120 guests at the event. This year it is anticipating serving 175 people or more, Horanoff said.

Horanoff said he plans to continue holding the event as long as he can.

“I would like to grow the event each year and also provide other dinners throughout the year,” he said. “God called me to deep fry turkeys and feed people in need. The rest of the event sort of developed a life of its own.”