Thanksgiving 2020
Star Group Veterans Helping Veterans gave away more than 500 turkeys and bas of fixings during its annual Thanksgiving Basket distribution.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, the number of people inside the group’s headquarters was limited to representatives from different community organizations and businesses only, instead of as in past years the actual 500 families would come to pick up their baskets.
Each person entering the building was submitted to a brief questionnaire and temperature check.
More than 500 bags were distributed over the weekend, with CCISD receiving 60 bags and Killeen ISD (which covers Killeen, Harker Heights and Nolanville) receiving 150 bags to go to students in need.
Each family received a turkey plus a bag with cans of corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, yams, cornbread mix, cake mix, frosting, gravy mix, rice and potatoes.
Star Group-Veterans Helping Veterans received several donations on the distribution day as well.
Teri Spears of Ohana Ink presented the group two checks totaling $550, on behalf of Educated Angels and The Sun Powers My Home LLC.
The Fort Hood Area Association of Realtors presented the group with a check for $5,500.
Executive Director Sheila Timmons said she was astonished when she saw the amount. She said the Fort Hood Area Association Realtors and David Hall have been true partners for several years with the SGVHV Thanksgiving Bag giveaway. They make a nice monetary donation toward the turkeys but this years amount was shocking and very much needed since SGVHV increased the giveaway to 500 bags.
Don Nicholas presented a proclamation to Star Group Veterans Helping Veterans for their efforts. He even stayed and helped with the Distribution.
Gregory Johnson was in attendance and as always stayed to help with the Distribution.
After the presentations and donations, Star Group-Veterans Helping Veterans Vice President Mr. John Robertson handed the first “official” Thanksgiving bag to CCISD Superintendent Mr. Joe Burns, who passed it to Killeen ISD Superintendent Mr. John Craft to represent the partnership between Copperas Cove and Killeen and shows no division between the city’s.
In years past, the SG-VHV has given away between 300 and 400 bags of food during their Thanksgiving Basket distribution.
Ms Timmons said this year, the group felt it was even more important to make sure families got a Thanksgiving meal, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and more people in need.
She said Star Group cut back on gatherings due to many members being in the higher-risk group for COVID-19.
But With the Thanksgiving baskets, the group had to figure out the best and safest way to protect the SGVHV Team and still help the community.
“We felt there was more need this time than ever before, and so that’s why we were trying to do whatever was needed as we were going to make that happen if we didn’t do anything else this year. Thanksgiving Giveaway was going to happen,” Timmons said. “It’s more for kids, not that adults don’t need the food, but the look when kids get to see all the food, it just touches your heart.”
She said that in previous years, when the kids would come through, they were so excited to see the vast amounts of food. She loved passing out Christmas Candy Canes to the kids while they waited for the food. Timmons said she felt it gave them hope for the upcoming Christmas Holiday.
Timmons said she definitely missed seeing the families come through to pick up their food and seeing their reactions this year.
“If we can give them any hope or anything with what’s going on right now in our country, if it’s a meal that will make them happy, then that’s the least that Star Group could do,” Timmons said.
“When I think back to the beginning when Mr. Jonathan Haywood and the 7 people started the group, that’s all they wanted was to feed people and see the smiles that they got from having a meal, so it’s been that way since ever since.
SGVHV supplied Other organizations assisting with Thanksgiving Bags to help with the distribution to families in need. These groups included the Fort Hood Realtors Association, Bring Everyone in the Zone, AFGE 1920, Vet Center, DAV 29, the Soup Kitchen, FH Chapels, WIC, WAC, Jesus Hope Ministry, Lil’ Tex Restaurant, PCSI, Central Texas College, the city of Copperas Cove, AFGE District 10, Oliver Transmission, All American Chevrolet and VFW Post #9191 and The Star Group-Veterans Helping Veterans Membership.
But none of this would be possible without our Premier Corporate Sponsors who stuck with Us during this pandemic. If you need any Services provided by these Sponsors we ask that you give them a chance as they continue to support the Community and You.
PREMIER CORPORATE SPONSORS & Thanksgiving Bag Sponsors
PCSI, Inc
JR Herring Rentals
Linnemann Realty
Viss Family Funeral Home (formerally Scott’s Funeral Home)
All American Chevrolet
Century 21 Premier Realtors
AFGE Local 1920
AFGE District 10
National United Bank
A Special Thanks goes to Sharon French Tabor who came to the rescue of Star Group Veterans and helped secure all of the final items needed to complete the bags. She asked what was still needed and within a couple of hours called to say she had secured All of the outstanding items.
SGVHV Thanks You Sharon for your Extra Effort!
Additional Bag Sponsors
All Star Group Veteran Helping Veterans Members
Fort Hood Area Association of Realtors
Sharon & Joe Tabor
The French Family
Refresh Spa of Copperas Cove
Home place floors Lampasas
Viss Family Funeral Home (formerly Scotts Funeral Home) Copperas Cove
Oliver Bros Transmission Copperas Cove
Walmart Copperas Cove
Walmart Killeen
Central Texas College
Warrior Way fort hood commissary
Operation Phantom Support
Educated Angels
The Sun Powers My Home Martin Spears
Crawford Bowers funeral home Copperas Cove Joe DeCroce
John Sanders
Regina Wesson