Health Science students from the Cullman Area Technology Academy (CATA) helped set up and serve food during Karma in Cullman’s community Thanksgiving meal on Wednesday. (W.C. Mann for The Cullman Tribune)
CULLMAN – Karma in Cullman, which held a community Thanksgiving meal in Gold Ridge for the last several years, relocated the event to Cullman’s southwest side this time, to the Cullman Housing Authority community center on Vine Circle, bringing the meal closer to many of the Cullman-area residents the organization serves.
“This is our first year here. Usually we’re at Gold Ridge, but we had a change in venue, maybe to reach more people here,” said Karma Founder Rachel Bryant. “ Since the beginning, we’ve served nearly 500 people every time we’ve done it, and, hopefully, at this location we’re where we need to be, I think. With the people we like to serve and everything, I think we’re in the right location for that, so we may have even more than that.”
Health Science students from the Cullman Area Technology Academy (CATA, also known as the Career Center), who are members of the local chapter of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), donated several turkeys, then came as volunteers and worked throughout the day.
Bryant bragged on the students, saying, “Those kids have been here all day, and they came in shifts. They did a morning shift that came and helped set up and cook and get things done, and then we have a second shift that’s helping serve and clean up.”
William’s Barbecue, which also donated turkeys, and Ryan’s Creek Barbecue and Produce smoked 19 turkeys for the dinner, and numerous volunteers around the community donated and prepared ham, mashed potatoes, dressing, green beans, cranberry sauce, bread, drinks and desserts.
Not too long ago, Bryant was worried about putting on this year’s meal, concerned about getting the resources and personnel needed to do it right.
“I almost canceled this year,” said Bryant, “because I was so worried about having enough supplies and having enough help, and God provided an overabundance of it, so we’ve been really blessed this year.”
Karma Christmas coming up
Karma is accepting donations of new and gently used toys for its annual Christmas project for area children in need. If you’d like to help, you can drop off items Monday through Friday at Karma’s office at 785 Alabama Highway 157 (near the Hwy. 157/ Alabama Highway 69 intersection), call 256-735-3942 or visit www.karmaincullman.org.
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