NC man planning to cook 5,000 meals for Helene victims Thanksgiving Day
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — As folks in western North Carolina continue to recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene, plans for the holidays are uncertain, but a North Carolina man wants to make Thanksgiving special this year for those still hurting.
David Burke knew he wanted to help victims of Helene, but he didn't know exactly how — until he went to church. "Started thinking about it a day or two before church," he said. "Went to church one Sunday and when I went to church, our Sunday school lesson was on community service. I was like, 'OK God, maybe that's a sign, you're trying to tell me to go do something.'" Then, a friend in Boone, North Carolina told him about a preacher accepting Amazon shipments at his home for victims. The two got to talking and came up with an award-winning recipe for relief. Burke has competed in several cooking competitions in the region, so they decided on an old-fashioned Thanksgiving Day meal. "We're going to cook 100 Butterball turkeys while we're out there, 24 pounders," he said. "It'll have ham, turkey, dressing, potatoes, collards, cornbread and cranberry sauce." He took to Facebook to spread the word, and it took off like wildfire. He and his team of now 149 volunteers will head to Avery County, North Carolina — the hardest hit area — the day before Thanksgiving to get everything ready. Burke said they've got enough to cook 5,000 meals. They'll even cook a second meal for folks to eat later. Local restaurants are also pitching in, holding fundraisers, overall, raising more than $40,000. Burke said they'll vet local organizations and decide where to best donate. He said he's overcome by the support of his hometown of Murfreesboro. "It is amazing, to be honest with you," he said. "It is really life-changing. I tell people all the time, it's given me the opportunity to talk to people more about their souls and being saved and understand what God can do if you believe Him. All you have to do is accept Him into your heart. And if you accept Him into your heart, He's going to take care of you."
They're planning more fundraisers—one is coming up Monday in Roanoke Rapids at Chick-Fil-A at 1:30 p.m. To volunteer, or donate, visit their Facebook page Operation Thanksgiving Blessings .
