Correction appended.
For many, Thanksgiving marks a time to come together and celebrate what they are the most thankful for.
However, for others, this holiday season presents additional difficulties. In a time where some have no family, job or money, the holiday spirit can be brought down.
Due to this, many local businesses and food pantries extended their services for those in need this holiday season.
Cutler's Restaurant in the Ohio University Inn and Conference Center, 331 Richland Ave., offered Thanksgiving family-style curbside pickup meals for those taking precautions due to COVID-19 this year.
“Times are so uncertain, it’s important to help those who need to be helped,” Julie Shaw, assistant general manager at Cutler’s, said in a message.
The family-size meal consisted of traditional Thanksgiving food and cost $120. Many locals decided to take part in this, Michelle said.
“We had many orders coming in starting right at 11 a.m., so we were really busy all day,” Michelle said in a message.
Along with the curbside pickup from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., the restaurant also extended its dine-in hours.
“We really hope that we helped people out this season, and I know from what I saw, we did,” Michelle said in a message.
Along with other restaurants in the area, local food pantries and shelters are also helping out. Domestic violence agency My Sister’s Place has been actively helping people this season and throughout the pandemic.
“What we do is contact our clients who we think would be in need and just let them know we’re here,” Kelly Cooke, executive director of My Sister’s Place, said.
For Thanksgiving, the shelter focused its efforts, offering canned goods and other foods.
“As always, we’re doing what we can to help out those in need,” Cooke said.
The shelter has had to adjust how it serves people due to COVID-19.
“The only thing COVID has really changed is how many people can be with us at a time,” Cooke said. “Instead of groups, we have just been doing one-on-one meetings with people.”
Along with food, the shelter is asking for cash donations to help buy food and presents as Christmas approaches. My Sister’s Place is also hoping for people to continue to donate and volunteer, especially as the year comes to an end.
“I think many people are taking this opportunity to get help, and to give back as well, it’s really heartwarming,” Cooke said.
Along with My Sister’s Place, the Athens County Food Pantry, 528 Richland Ave. #3748, is also helping those out this season.
“Even though we’ve moved, we’re still continuing things as we normally do,” Jean Marie Cackowski-Campbell, assistant at the pantry, said in an email.
Along with the continued distribution of food and canned goods, the pantry also extended its hours over the Thanksgiving holiday.
“We wanted to make sure that everyone had a chance to get what they need,” Cackowski-Campbell said in an email.
Cackowski-Campbell said the pantry has been helping out in any way they can for as long as it's been around, even with a move and COVID-19 slowing things down.
“We still want to keep going even in this uncertain time,” Cackowski-Campbell said in an email. “The only thing that has truly changed is the capacity limit of how many people can be in the pantry at a time.”
The pantry also hopes people continue to donate their time, goods and money to them.
“We want everyone to know the support hasn’t stopped, and will continue even into Christmas to help out those in need,” Cackowski-Campbell said in an email.
Correction appended: A previous version of this article stated the incorrect last name and title of Julie Shaw. The article has been updated to relfect the most accurate information.
