LUMBERTON — Mike Cribbs says his battle with cancer is what inspired him to spend Thanksgiving Day helping to feed strangers.
“I’m a cancer survivor and God is good to me, so I have to give back,” said the Fairmont resident.
Cribbs and dozens more volunteers served up turkey and all the extras during the United Way of Robeson County’s United in Thanks at the Bill Sapp Recreation Center.
“On today, a day to give thanks, there’s going to be at least 400 people who may not have had a Thanksgiving meal get one now,” Lumberton Councilman John Cantey said.
Nearly 60 volunteers came out to prepare, serve and deliver food from late morning to early afternoon. Cribbs was the unofficial head chef. He helped prep and cook the food over the three days before the event.
He had been shown around the kitchen, Cribbs said.
“I had grandmammas and aunts who could cook some of the best food you could ever eat,” he said.
On the menu were turkey and gravy, rice, green beans, dressing, rolls, and tea or pink lemonade to wash it down. Dessert options included pumpkin and pecan pie, cookies, and pound and marble cakes.
Cribbs said he had a lot of practice cooking for crowds at his church in Fayetteville and fundraisers for the Borderbelt Aids Resource Team.
The United Way was prepared to serve 400 people on Thursday and were well on their way to reaching that goal with about 350 plates served and delivered at the midway point, according to United Way Executive Director Latricia Freeman.
Lumberton native Rommie Brooks went for two helpings — and was all smiles.
“It’s a good thing, and I’m proud that there are people in Robeson County that think about the people who live here that aren’t fortunate enough to have meals,” Brooks said. “Thank you to every one of the people that prepared the meal.”
The event wasn’t only about providing a hot holiday meal. It also was about informing people about the more than 70 local resources for health and human needs.
Ertle Locklear and son Nick were well aware of those needs as they ate their meals.
“Matthew and with the last hurricane, Florence, a lot of people suffered in this area,” Ertle said.
“I feel like it’s great for the community because I’ve seen quite a few people struggle in life in general and something like this can be just one meal that they really need that day,” Nick said.
Cantey had only positive things to say about the event and the support it gives to residents affected by Hurricane Florence.
“United Way and the volunteers have really outdone themselves,” Cantey said. “There’s a lot of citizens all over our community that are one, homeless, or their home is in disrepair, so I appreciate United Way and their partners for doing this.”
In 2017, United Way partnered with Operation Turkey in Fayetteville to bring hot meals to Robeson County. This year, agency leaders made the decision to prepare and serve the meals in Lumberton at Bill Sapp. The event was sponsored by the Julius Peppers Hurricane Relief Fund, with assistance from the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce, Captain D’s and the city of Lumberton. The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union 1208 at Smithfield provided the turkeys for Thursday’s event.
Freeman felt good about the event’s turnout, both the people who came for a hot meal and the volunteers who helped make it possible.
“We’ve had lot of people say ‘I want to be a part of something, I want to do something, I want to give back,’ so as far as contributing, we’ve had a lot of people,” she said. “It has gone well.”
“I just feel like people need to do,” Cribbs said. “If you give of yourself, people get blessings.”
