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Church Brings Idea To The Table

Kevin Howe/stringer photo

Zahra Magwood, member of the Kingdom Worship Center, puts information about the Church in food boxes given out, along with a turkey, to area needy families during A Day of Thanks event hosted by the Kingdom Worship Center and held at Copeland Park.

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By PAUL CATALA, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 24, 2007

Updated: 11/21/2007 10:12 pm

Additional Photos

NORTH TAMPA - The timing and holiday spirit couldn't have been better for Herbin Guion Sr.

With Thanksgiving fast approaching and little in the way of finances to put food on the table for himself and his son, the free turkey and trimmings would be a delightful contrast for the 42-year-old father.

Carrying the box of food, Guion, with his son, Herbin Jr., 7, next to him, said that until he found out about Kingdom Worship Center's second annual A Day of Thanks celebration, he wasn't sure what would be on the table for the holiday.

The nondenominational Christian church helped feed about 1,000 families from the Tampa Bay area for Thanksgiving. With lines forming as early as 7:30 a.m. Nov. 17 at Copeland Park, church members and volunteers teamed with area businesses and social service organizations to help families in need, giving out turkeys and food boxes that would feed a family of four for a week.

As he toted his box toward his ride, Guion said he just finished serving a year and a half in prison and wouldn't have been able to afford a proper dinner for him and his son.

"This will help me get back in order and make good food and will help me have a good Thanksgiving with my family," he said. "There are a lot of people here that can't afford a dinner, like me, so this helps out the community."

On the grounds near the park's recreation center, a host of activities took place, and social service organizations donated time for visitors.

Helping coordinate the event was Robert Fruster, Kingdom Worship Center's senior pastor. Fruster said the community and members of his approximately 250-member church really came through for A Day of Thanks.

"The beautiful thing is knowing that people that may not have had anything Thursday will now have something," he said.

In addition to food for a Thanksgiving dinner, those attending the event could get basic medical attention, social service information, learn about housing options and get Medicaid advice.

Fifteen students from Sheer Excellence International Hair Academy Inc. volunteered their time to cut more than 100 heads of hair.

"This is good; we need the practice anyway," said student hairstylist Francisco Martinez. "So the thing is, this is good for us; it's good for the community."

Kingdom Worship Center, 3802 Spectrum Blvd., also offered free spiritual guidance, as well. In a prayer line on a basketball court and with her hands on the head of Marisol Vega, Kingdom member Chanelle Osley-Brown prayed aloud for Vega to have a joyous Thanksgiving and Christmas.

"Strengthen them and build them up in spirit throughout the holidays," she said.

Outside the basketball courts, children bounced in a moonwalk, got their faces painted and played games. Some of them, for the first time, got to see horses up close and get a horseback ride for the first time, courtesy of Frederick and Janice Albury, who brought in four horses from a family farm in Lakeland.

At an information table, another church volunteer coordinator, Ebony Grimsley, said the goal was to expand A Day of Thanks from the holiday season into programs year-round.

"It's about giving back to people not just during the holidays. We want to give people a sense of normalcy in their daily lives," said Grimsley, one of 60 church volunteers. "It's people doing for others what God has done for them."

Fruster said a similar event, A Spectacular Christmas, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 22, with a location to be determined. For details, call (813) 383-9823.

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