Columbia's Family Center ensures households feast on Thanksgiving
As families across Maury County celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family, more than 500 struggling households within the community are also eating well thanks to the support of a local nonprofit organization.
The Family Center in Columbia has distributed more than 500 full-sized turkeys and accompanying boxes of stuffing, sweet potatoes and canned vegetables for the holiday.
The effort continues an ongoing tradition by the local nonprofit organization for nearly a decade.
The Family Center is dedicated to empowering individuals to break the cycle of poverty.
This year's effort, supported by the Tennessee Valley Authority, will feed thousands in the greater Southern Middle Tennessee community.
TVA representatives and students from Columbia Academy assisted with the distribution effort.
"We have had a ton of help," said Dawn Taylor, executive director of The Family Center.
This year, Taylor said the Family Center received more donations than it could distribute to families.
She said the overflow of food allows The Family Center to keep its food bank filled in the coming week, including another special meal distribution for Christmas dinners in December.
"It has just grown. People love to do it, and we just love being the folks who are able to make sure people have a Thanksgiving meal," Taylor said. "It is a great feeling."
The annual event represents a small fraction of the work that The Family Center does to support Maury County's struggling households.
In 2020, the organization provided more than $1.5 million in financial assistance, reaching a total of 10,180 families and 915 children.
During the holiday season, they handed out 1,075 turkeys and hams.
More: Columbia families feast on Thanksgiving thanks to The Family Center
This year, Taylor predicts The Family Center will surpass its efforts last year.
"I am sure it will be more than that this year," Taylor said.
Taylor said the holiday season is the busiest time of year for the local organization.
"This becomes the time when everybody is working long hours," Taylor said. "We are just happy to be here."
Holiday giving continues with toy drive
As Hanukkah and Christmas near, the local nonprofit is now shifting its attention to its holiday toy drive, seeking the public’s assistance in collecting toys and other items for its annual drive.
Called “Santa’s Workshop,” the program calls on the public to purchase new toys for all ages and donate them to The Family Center. Those seeking to contribute can drop off gifts at The Family Center or participate in its Angel Tree program.
More: 'Here to help': Family Center back-to-school giveaway prepares families for school year
Shoppers at Columbia's Walmart can pick a festive wish from a tree at the front of the store and then purchase that item at the store for donation.
All donations must be made by Dec. 11.
Last year, the center collected Christmas gifts for local children.
"Right now, we ask that people bring us toys from infant to 18. We are fine with food, and financially we are fine, so really if we can get toys — that is the important thing. They can either collect for an angel or put a box up and collect random toys. Either way is fine with us."
The donated toys can be dropped off at The Family Center, 921 Beckett St. in Columbia, through Dec. 11. The Family Center staff and volunteers will then prepare the gifts for distribution.
How to contact The Family Center:
Location: 921 Beckett St., Columbia, TN 38401
Phone: (931) 388-3840
Email: family@familycenter.org
Website: https://familycenter.org/
Note: Financial contributions to the Family Center can be made from the organization’s website.
Reach Mike Christen at mchristen@c-dh.net. Follow him on Twitter at @MikeChristenCDH and on Instagram @michaelmarco. Please consider supporting his work and that of other Daily Herald journalists by subscribing to the publication.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Columbia's Family Center ensures households feast on Thanksgiving
