REDMOND, Ore. — Thanksgiving is a time of year when many give back to their communities.
In Redmond, Oregon, the Rizk Transportation Company did just that recently, handing out 100 free holiday meals to less fortunate residents on Nov. 17.
This marked the first year Rizk has held such an event, but owner Mike Rizk told Central Oregon Daily that he has been doing this independently for three years and has no plans of stopping.
During the event, Rizk workers carried out boxes, which were filled to the brim with all the fixings for a traditional Thanksgiving feast, to dozens of vehicles lined up outside.
There, residents like Clinton Keller were waiting.
Keller told Central Oregon Daily that the gesture meant the world to him.
“I get food stamps to live off of for my dinners and stuff,” he said. “With my kids, it kind of goes pretty fast so this will help bridge the gap.”
“I’m financially in a burden. I do have a roof over my head and I’m thankful. I am so thankful that they were giving out turkeys and food for the holidays that I normally at this point in my life would not be able to get,” Karen Humphrys told Central Oregon Daily.
Mason Engstrom, Rizk’s fleet services manager, said giving back means a lot.
“We’ve grown a lot in this past year so we decided why not give back, you know? No reason anyone should go hungry especially on Thanksgiving,” Engstrom said.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in East Texas, John Worthen returned to his home state to attend college in 1998 and decided to make his life in The Natural State. Worthen is a 20-year veteran of the journalism industry and has covered just about every topic there is. He has a passion for writing and telling stories. He has worked as a beat reporter and bureau chief for a statewide newspaper and as managing editor of a regional newspaper in Arkansas. Additionally, Worthen has been a prolific freelance journalist for two decades, and has been published in several travel magazines and on travel websites.
Great job ,because the usa government is only taking care of ever other foreign countries in the world with our tax dollars and thats those illegals crossing into our countries daliy draining us blind,take care of America, and veterans only,no foreign countries or illegals.