FORT WORTH -- For Sherri Carter, the last three years have been spent trying to recover from a freak accident.
She became disabled after being crushed by a trailer that nearly severed her right arm.When she heard about Feast of Sharing, the free, pre-holiday dinner offered Tuesday by Central Market, she couldn't wait to go, saying it was a nice start to the holiday season.She got her neighbor, Lynn Baker, to drive from their Arlington apartment complex and brought her 2-year-old grandson, Trey Delandro, along to eat turkey, have a little ice cream and maybe get a photo with Santa."I'm sure we'll have something on Thanksgiving but this just gives us a special day with turkey and dressing," Carter said. "We may have ham sandwiches -- I don't know -- but this definitely makes it feel like we've already had a Thanksgiving meal."The annual holiday event was started 24 years ago by Central Market's parent company, HEB, in Corpus Christi and Laredo. It has since grown to include 30 cities in Texas and Mexico that will feed about 275,000 people this year.But it is the first time the event has been held in Fort Worth.Central Market officials said they could serve up to 10,000 meals with the mobile kitchen that is trucked across the state but they weren't projecting that big of a turnout in the event's initial year. Attendance totals were not available."We've found that it takes a couple of years to get the word out," said Stephen Butt, senior vice president of Central Market. "But the response and the support from the community in Fort Worth have been outstanding so we might do a little better than expected."More than 60 social service organizations set up tables at the event, which was held in the Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.Free flu shots and a variety of books were offered to anyone who wanted them.To ensure no one went hungry, the mobile kitchen was set to prepare up to 2,000 pounds of turkey as well as 1,500 pounds of cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes and vegetables. There were also 6,000 rolls, 1,000 pumpkin pies, 80 gallons of giblet gravy and 60 gallons of cranberry sauce on hand.As part of the feast tradition, all of those who attend can eat as much as they like."I stopped at one but my husband went for seconds," said Brenda Waggoner as her husband, James, worked on his second plate. "We'll have a Thanksgiving but this is a good day for us, really good day."Many of those who attended had harrowing stories of medical or legal battles that had made their lives a struggle.Some said they had almost lost hope over the last year."I don't know what I would have done for Thanksgiving, probably nothing," said a 45-year-old parolee who is living in a Fort Worth group home and didn't want to give his name."I don't know anyone here in Fort Worth -- I don't have any family," he said. "This is just where I was sent when I got out of prison. I'm not going to lie, it's been pretty difficult. I probably wouldn't have had a Thanksgiving this year without this."Bill Hanna, (817) -390Twitter: @fwhannaHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
