AUSTIN, Texas — For 50 years, knocking on doors with a hot meal has become a Thanksgiving tradition for Meals on Wheels Central Texas. It’s also become a tradition for the first family in Texas.
“This is part of what America is all about, you know, Americans helping each other from the original Thanksgiving until today,” Abbott said.
Thanksgiving morning, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his family joined Meals on Wheels Central Texas to personally deliver Thanksgiving meals to seniors and Texans in need.
This year, the organization said they had a waiting list of volunteers who were ready to help out with cooking and delivering food. On Thursday, they had about 300 volunteers, some of them even starting their holiday early at 4:30 a.m. to prepare meals.
In total, 500 meals were delivered to seniors who can’t leave their homes.
“A lot of them live alone, and this is the socialization they get, and so especially a day like today where it’s all about family, it makes them feel like they’ve got family,” said Henry Van de Putte, the CEO of Meals on Wheels Central Texas.
Every year for Thanksgiving, the organization tries to makes sure no seniors are left alone on the holiday.
“We work with them all year round to make sure that, these are the folks that really, if we didn’t show up, no one would be there for them,” Van de Putte said.
For many volunteers, including Abbott, a meaningful connection comes out of these deliveries.
“One of the best parts is providing the meal, but another great thing is providing conversation and getting to know these people,” Abbott said.
With a huge rivalry game between the Texas Longhorns and the Texas A&M Aggies coming up, Abbott said it’s no surprise the topic of football came up in conversation during these deliveries.
“Especially when the first family shows up and spent some time, talks football, talks fixin’s, it’s a little bit of normalcy in a real chaotic world,” Van de Putte said. “Today is not politics, it’s not policy, it’s really about connecting with people.”
Leaders with Meals on Wheels Central Texas said throughout the year, they always have a waiting list of neighbors who need food, so they’re always looking for more volunteers. Throughout the year, they typically give out around 3,500 meals a day.
You can sign up to be a volunteer on the Meals on Wheels Central Texas website.