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LAPLACE — Since the week after Hurricane Ida, Victorious Life Family Worship Center has constantly had boots on the ground to help the community heal. The Thanksgiving season was no exception as the church partnered with State Representative Randal Gaines to distribute 500 turkeys last week at 8896 Richmond Drive in LaPlace.
Tawanda Thomas watched as cars started lining up more than two hours before the distribution. It was a blessing to see smiles light up people’s faces as hundreds of local families received a Thanksgiving meal.
“The members of our church serve. That’s what we’re called to do,” Thomas said. “We like to treat people with respect when we are giving because they are just like us. Half of the people in our church lost everything. When people come to us, it’s not like you are coming for a handout. We are giving you a turkey as a fellow brother or sister in Christ. That’s the kind of culture we like to develop here.”
Peggy Joseph with Randal Gaines’ office helped secure the turkeys, which was a Godsend in itself with nationwide shortages making supplies hard to come by.
While this was Victorious Life Family Worship Center’s first Thanksgiving giveaway, Apostle Renita Graber said it will become an annual event.
“Last year we did 1,000 toys for Christmas. Because of the storm, we partnered with State Representative Randal Gaines and extended ourselves to Thanksgiving. We just want to be a blessing, and people are so excited to get their turkeys,” Graber said.
Since September 6, Victorious Life’s parking lot has become a distribution point for food, toiletries, mops, brooms and other supplies needed for residents to restore their homes. The church itself sustained some interior damage during the storm, causing service to move to the event center across the breezeway.
Graber is no stranger to hurricane devastation, as Ida damaged home, rental property and car.
“God has been good to me, even in the midst of everything, and we just wanted to extend ourselves to the community to show the love of God,” Graber said. “God said how else are you going to know that you are my disciples but by your love? That’s why we are here, extending ourselves to be God’s hands and God’s feet.”
Victorious Life Family Worship Center will continue serving the community with a colossal Christmas giveaway. Beginning at noon on Friday, December 17, the church will be a distribution hub for the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots program, as well as Salvation Army’s Silver Bells and Angel Tree giveaways. During this time, Victorious Life Family Worship Center will also be giving away 500 bicycles to children in need of a little extra Christmas joy.
Registration is still open for the toy and bicycle distributions at victoriouslifefwc.com.