Police, Pastors Pass Out Meals To South Miami Families
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Officers and volunteers passed out hundreds of holiday meals just in time for Thanksgiving.
On Wednesday afternoon, police and pastors from four churches handed out three hundred Thanksgiving meals at Saint John's AME Church at 6461 SW 59 Place.
Residents in the South Miami area got the meals they would otherwise not have had. The annual turkey dinner giveaway is organized by the Dade County Police Benevolent Association, in conjunction with The South Miami Police Department.
Eloise Lanier is raising her two grandchildren. She's grateful for the food, the help and the friendship of her community.
"I can't thank the Lord and the community and the people who help me and surround me and encourage me. I just can't give them enough thanks," said Lanier.
Seven year old Ejaash Carter is not shy about saying he too appreciates those around him and plans to repay the kindness.
"I'm going to be a preacher and I'm going to change just like Martin Luther King Jr.," said Carter.
Pastors also took the time to go door to door to deliver food those those who couldn't make it to the church to pick up.
There's more behind this police/pastor project than just sharing food.
As we see community protests in Chicago and other cities, pitting people and police against each other -- projects like the one in South Miami work to build relationships.
"This is what we as police officers and as our community want to do is give back to our community and be able to share that kindness, that love that togetherness, that community feeling we all have here in South Miami," said Sgt. Henry Guzman with the South Miami Police Department.
"It builds good will and a level of trust between the police officer and the citizen's of the community instead of being that distrustful element in a lot of our cities across America," said Pastor Rodney James with Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church.
When the food is all passed out, this is not the end of projects between police and churches. they have several that are on going. In fact the next one is December 18th with a tree lighting.