KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On Thanksgiving, the Knox Area Rescue Ministries opened its doors to 500 people and served them a warm Thanksgiving meal. Online, their goal was to reach 26,333 meals.
Lee Rolen is an Air Force veteran who enlisted when he was 17 years old.
"I'm happily married and God's been good to me," Rolen said. "I've been overseas to Vietnam. All around here the United States."
Rolen said the hardest time was when he was in Vietnam and he quickly changed the subject to what he's grateful for. Especially with a pie waiting right next to his main course, he said, today was a good day.
KARM has been hosting Thanksgiving for the last 27 years. Danita McCartney, KARM President and CEO, said they expected to serve about 500 people.
"It's just our joy and privilege to be able to do this," McCartney said. "There's a lot of excitement, and from so many volunteers that it's taking, to put this event on, we have our kitchen, a flurry of activity, we have people plating the plates with all that amazing food."
Preparations took time and they had to work all week to make sure everything was ready to go.
The kitchen supervisor of KARM, Greg Leonhardt, said the biggest challenge when feeding so many people is to maintain the quality of the food.
"It can be so challenging for so many people," Leonhardt said. "So, we come in and make sure we do the best for the people and prepare an excellent meal and a delicious meal and just deliver the biblical hospitality that's associated with KARM."
Many appreciated KARM's hospitality today.
"Grateful to have people to volunteer to help and to have a meal like this is so much of a blessing." KARM member Donald Bargo said. "Nine years on the streets have taught me it's been family, it's family, it's community."
Rolen said he plans to honor every single bite of food he gets. His advice is to focus on the positive.
"I'm gonna get rid of a little more of it, not gonna go to waste," Rolen said. "I'm not as young anymore now but I feel happy and proud to look for it. Don't dwell on pain. Be happy."