Dagmar Gray loves helping others — and ‘stupid hats.’
She has donated her time every week at St. Moses the Black Parish, 331 E. 71st St., for the last eight years, missing only two weekly food giveaways: When her husband died and when she had knee surgery.
The 73-year-old keeps the mood light by sporting colorful headwear.
“I have three of these stupid hats,” she said as she passed out turkeys at the chruch’s annual holiday giveaway.
“I love doing this,” she says, wiping a tear from her eye.
Wednesday’s giveaway at the Catholic church in Greater Grand Crossing is one of the larger ones held in Chicago. Nearly 800 turkeys are expected to be passed out at St. Moses the Black Parish. That’s up from the 600 distributed last year.
The Rev. Matthew S. O’Donnell is not surprised. He says more people are attending the parish’s weekly food distributions due to rising food prices.
“People are definitely struggling right now, given the economy. I think people are trying to find places to save,” O’Donnell said.
The parish’s aim is to provide people economic relief while giving a sense of dignity, he says.
“If they need to come every week, we’re here every week. If they need to just come to get ready for Thanksgiving, then that’s great, too,” he says.
There were plenty of people who came Wednesday morning. A line snaked through the parking lot where the food was being handed out and past the front of the church.
In addition to turkey, volunteers passed out stuffing, cranberries, chicken and potatoes.
Gabriella Wilkins has fallen on hard times.
Homeless for the last 2 1/2 years, the 39-year-old plans to have Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends, but will donate her turkey to a nephew. Higher food prices are an issue for her family.
“On a good day milk is $5,” she says.
Roger Thompson traveled from Evanston to grab a turkey, though he won’t be cooking it for a Thanksgiving meal. He doesn’t want to spend the day alone. He plans to get a free meal at Two Fish Crab Shack at 47th Street and Langley Avenue on Thursday and save the turkey for another day.
“This is family time. But this is the best I can do,” he says of his Thursday plans.
Thompson’s girlfriend died in August from a blood disorder.
“It took a lot out of me. I’ve been depressed. I really loved her,” he said.
Roger Thompson looks at a pie he received outside St. Moses the Black Parish in Grand Crossing, Wednesday, where volunteers were distributing food and clothes ahead of Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, 2024. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Phillis Williams, 51, plans to attend Thanksgiving dinner at the church.
She moved back to Chicago four weeks ago after staying with her family in Louisiana. She’s back here because she had better access to health care, she says.
“I don’t really have family here,” she says, holding her year-old Shih Tzu-poodle, Cammie. “It’s a little tough.”
Lottie Williams, 75, got a turkey but will not be cooking it herself. She will be working security at McCormick Place on Thanksgiving. She plans to have her family, including some of her 14 grandchildren, prepare the bird for her.
What does Thanksgiving mean to her?
“That the Lord blessed me to see another day, and have family and friends.”