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DESCRIPTION:In 1999\, Arrow Dealerships met with Pastor Mark Hewitt of Lo
 ve and Care Ministries regarding his ministry for the poor and homeless 
 in the Abilene area. Arrow realized that it could easily make an impact 
 as a community leader in educating the public regarding this program and
  raise public awareness. The location of their main Arrow Ford store cou
 ld be used to increase the volunteer base and donation of clothing\, bed
 ding\, money and food. There was great potential to hold an event to acc
 omplish their objectives for Love and Care ministries. Year after year\,
  Mission Thanksgiving is more successful than the last. In 1999\, our fi
 rst Mission Thanksgiving filled 1.5 trailers and raised $6\,000 with all
  types of canned goods and clothing. Now\, here we are in 2020 and the e
 vent has grown tremendously having collected 13 semi-trailers of clothin
 g and food and raising over $200\,000 in 2019.\n\n\nMission Thanksgiving
  is a chance for the community of Abilene and Big Country to band togeth
 er in hopes of aiding Love and Care Ministries in helping the homeless a
 nd poor of Abilene. Each November for the past twenty-one years\, Missio
 n Thanksgiving has benefited the homeless and poor in tremendous ways. N
 ot only has it provided necessities such as food and clothing\, Mission 
 Thanksgiving has supplied the necessary monetary donations to help conti
 nue the Soup Kitchen that is open 5 days a week\, as of 2019 the Soup Ki
 tchen is serving over 4\,000 hot meals a week. In addition to helping fu
 nd the development of two facilities in the rule communities of Merkel a
 nd Clyde.\n\n\nLast year alone\, we received 13 semi-trailers full of cl
 othing\, non-perishable\, blankets\, sleeping bags\, coats\, bottled wat
 er and drinks\, shoes\, socks\, and hygiene items. In addition\, over $2
 50\,000 was raised\, with thousands of vehicles driving through Arrow Fo
 rd to donate in just one day. There was also a $65\,000 Pepsi product do
 nation. In spite of the overwhelming response\, all donations collected 
 for 2026 will be distributed within 11 months. This is an incredible gif
 t each year for Love and Care\, the homeless\, and the poor of Abilene.\
 n\n\nWithin just 43¢\, Love and Care Ministries can create 1 sack lunch.
  $10 is enough to feed 24 people and $500 can make 1\,162 meals! Even th
 e smallest donations can help make a difference in theses people's lives
 .\n\n\nThere are an estimated 400+ residential homeless people in Abilen
 e\, and about 300+ more transient homeless travel through Abilene each y
 ear. Children make up 10%-15% of these numbers\, which do not include th
 e poor who benefit from the food and clothing services. That said\, it i
 s obvious just how many people benefit from drives like Mission Thanksgi
 ving.
URL:https://www.givegab.com/nonprofits/love-care-ministries/opportunities
 /mission-thanksgiving-2022-2
SUMMARY:Mission Thanksgiving 2026
LOCATION:4001 S 1st 4001 South 1st.\, Abilene\, TX 79605\, United States
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