Local church partners with New York non-profit, provides Thanksgiving meal to flood victims

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) – Hurricane relief has come in many different forms for Washington County, Tennessee. On Saturday, it came in the form of a hot meal.

Members of the community gathered at Fender's Farm for a Thanksgiving meal. Jenni M., Founder of Western New York Community Outreach, came up with the idea. Jenni saw the devastation in the area and wanted to help.

"I just wanted to see people smile," said Jenni.

"Jenni called from New York," said Tommy Clark, Pastor at Cherry Grove Baptist Church in Jonesborough. "And she wanted to come down and provide a Thanksgiving meal for the whole community."

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What started as a phone call turned into volunteers from Buffalo, New York, ready to cook a meal for those in need. Jenni said the Thanksgiving meal is something simple but important.

"Because some people haven't had a hot meal in God knows how long now," Jenni said.

Both Clark and Jenni said this meal was about more than the food.

"[It's about] togetherness," Jenni said. "It just shows what community stands for. Everyone's there for each other, and that's how it should be."

"This is a good opportunity to not only feed people but bring people together in the community," said Clark.

Washington County resident Donald Cutshaw watched his house get overtaken by the floods. Despite the impact the flood had on him, he's learned to cherish the little things.

"This is what we need to be thankful for," Cutshaw said.

Both Clark and Jenni believe it will take a village to build the community back up.

"Everybody needs a little help sometimes," said Jenni. "And we can all help each other and continue to be a community and build each other up."

"We are a community, and we're going to stand together," said Clark. "We're strong and we want them to know that.