Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Thousands lined up in southeast Wichita Tuesday morning to get a turkey and the makings of a grand Thanksgiving dinner courtesy of the Bread of Life ministry.

The ministry's turkey-and-all-the-fixings annual giveaway attracted some families in line as early as 5 a.m.

Organizers say they were surprised fewer people turned out for the giveaway than last year. Last year there were not enough turkeys for every family who waited in line so some families received chickens instead. This year every family received a turkey for dinner and plenty of other goodies too.

Thousands of Wichitans lost their jobs since this time last year so there was an expectation that many more people could show up. The ministry was prepared to serve 6,500 bags of food. Instead nearly 3,000 received a turkey and a bag of food.

The cold weather may have been to blame for the lower than expected turn out or perhaps other churches were distributing food on the same day. Nevertheless, those who did stand in line say they are happy with what they received and that Bread of Life is helping them to make sure this Thanksgiving holiday will not be a bleak one for their families.