The Clinton County High School cafeteria had volunteers scrambling around on Thanksgiving Day preparing hot meals residents of Clinton County who might just need a little nourishment.

The “No Kid Hungry Project,” in conjunction with the Hark Foundation, provided more than 1,800 meals to families in need this holiday season.

In addition to meals, there was also a clothing drive held at the school for anyone who needed warm clothing during the winter months.

Mrs. Melissa Tallent, coordinator of the “No Kid Hungry Project” at Clinton County High School, was humbled once again at the community effort put forth to provide meals and clothing to those in the county.

Despite cooking more than 100 turkeys, people came forward and helped when it was looking like food was running low.

“We ran out of food and so we had to go back and purchase 12 hams,” Tallent said. “We started making extra dressing and mash potatoes because we purchased extra. We cooked 102 turkeys this year.”

Tallent said they had to go back to Save-A-Lot twice and store manager Anthony Dalton was good enough to open the store for them both times.

“I can’t say enough about IGA and Save-A-Lot,” Tallent said. “They really came through for us.”

Other than the volunteers who were scheduled to work, Tallent said there were many people who came in of their own free will and volunteered their time.

“I’m not sure what time it was, but it was early on, we were putting the boxes together, it always gets crazy when the dishes first get going and this woman came to the kitchen and I thought she wanted a to-go box. She said no, I’m here to help. I asked her what she wanted to do and she said she would wash dishes,” Tallent said. “I do not know her name, never met her before, and she stood for probably two and a half to three hours and washed dishes.”

“She just got in there,” Matthew Hunter said.

“When she left, she told Caleb (York), ‘I just want to thank you all for letting me volunteer and letting me help you guys today. It has been an honor washing your dishes,’” Tallent said. “Who says that? That was pretty awesome. I wish I knew who she is so I can say thank you, but that was pretty amazing. That was just another one of those ways God answers prayers because at that point in time we were so short staffed and we had no one to wash dishes.”

Tallent also said there was one family who came in and according to Tallent, the family was homeless and was living in their car. They received a blanket from the clothing drive and said they were “thankful that they would be warm tonight.”

“I wish we knew who they were so we could have helped them more,” Tallent said.

Knowing that you have touched the lives of those in the community is what the Thanksgiving Meal is all about and especially for the students, many of whom come back every year, even after graduation, in order to provide help for this cause.

Tallent said one family they delivered a meal to last year came this year to volunteer.

“They needed meals last year and this year they came to deliver because they were thankful they received meals last year,” Tallent said. “We had a guy who called and said his dad hadn’t received his meal. We told him we were backed up and we would get one to him so the man came out and helped us deliver.”

Tallent also said one delivery unit was driving a church van and was asked if there was a pastor with them. The group went back and got a pastor and took them to the location in order to give witness.

“We sent someone back to witness to her,” Tallent said. “It’s more that just food.”

Zack McFall was one of several students who worked in the kitchen and even though he said he didn’t have a lot of direct contact with those who came out to the school to get their meals, it still means a lot to him to be able to do this for his community.

“It feels really good to see the looks on people’s faces because I don’t think a lot of them get to have a big Thanksgiving meal,” McFall said. “There were a lot of single meals delivered … a lot of people who I don’t think had families to share with.”

Kyle Choate, who stated last year that he got stuck in the freezer, promoted himself this year to head of the potato squad in charge of making the mashed potatoes.

“I didn’t have much contact with the people who came in, but I can honestly say I look forward to this Thanksgiving meal. It’s kind of like it’s my other family too.”

“They literally stirred potatoes for three hours,” Tallent said.

All of the students involved with the “No Kid Hungry Project” were humbled at the experience, whether it was their first time working the holiday or if they have been working the entire four years.

“It’s kind of eye opening,” Mackenzie Polston said. “You don’t really think about how many people in our county really need the meals. They need somebody to provide that for them. There is a need and to be able to help with that is truly a blessing.”

Most students even forgo their own families’ Thanksgiving Meal in order to put their time in for others.

“It’s good to see the people you’ve helped come back to help you,” Hunter said. “I really look forward to this.”

The entire day isn’t just solid work to these students. Many of them said they find ways to have fun as well.

“It might be stressful, but we have fun,” Frank Zheng said.

“The best part this year is she (Melissa Tallent) didn’t have a broken foot or anything,” Choate said, and McFall added, “I accidentally burnt one of those butter wrappers … It’s still on one of the burners in there.”

Macy Campbell said this was the first year she worked the Thanksgiving Meal and that she would definitely be back next year after she graduates.

“It was really fun to watch the entire community come together,” Campbell said. “It showed me how really blessed I was.”

Vivian Zheng said she is thankful because she actually sees the people in the community she is helping.

“I think it’s a really good experience,” Zheng said.

The “No Kid Hungry Project” has learned from years’ past and according to Tallent last year’s dessert shortage was not the case this year.

“We made a cry for desserts after being short last year and it was important to me for everyone to get dessert and they did this year, and that was important to me,” Tallent said. “God put me in my place and I was sitting at my desk about a week before the Thanksgiving Meal. I was several hundred dollars short at that time.”

Tallent said during the time before the meal, several people came to her and donated to the cause and really helped make the meal a success.

“Needless to say, we couldn’t do this without the donations, volunteers themselves, and the monetary donations,” Tallent said. “I just can’t thank people enough for opening up their hearts and their wallets and the giving of their time for others. I hope, for these kids, more than teaching them anything in English class, that they learn that sometimes it’s better to give than to receive … truly.”

To be able to do this year after year, Tallent said it is a true gift to be able to see these students go through this experience and she believes it will be worth more than anything she can teach in the classroom.

Students and adults worked side by side and in close quarters Thanksgiving Day, preparing desserts to be packed with more than 1,800 meals that were served by the now-annual community-wide “No Kid Hungry Project.”