FELLSMERE — More than 400 families will be able to sit down to a proper Thanksgiving feast all because one Fellsmere organization reached out to the community and the community responded.
“It’s because beautiful people all over the place wanted to help,” said Operation Hope President and Founder Jesse Zermeno.
With mere minutes left before the annual Operation Hope Thanksgiving Giveaway, the number of turkeys and chickens donated reached 425.
“In the name of the people we helped, thank you Indian River and Brevard counties,” Zermeno said.
One week before the giveaway, Zermeno feared they would not have enough turkeys, sitting with less than a hundred. Two days before, they had fewer than 200. In the 48 hours leading up to the event, however, donations came pouring in and the organization was able to more than double the birds.
Standing in line waiting to get a turkey and all the trimmings that go with a Thanksgiving dinner was Brenda Schirmer, of Vero Beach, who said the best part of this year’s Thanksgiving will be having her grandson with her, for which she is most grateful.
She said she is thankful for Operation Hope.
“It’s real nice to have” an organization such as Operation Hope that helps the community, Schirmer said.
She and hundreds of others made their way down a series of tables picking up turkeys or chickens, sodas, coffee creamer donated by Dunkin’ Donuts, cans of corn, green beans, spinach and cranberry sauce, potatoes, cans of pumpkin, chicken stock and gravy, and baked goods including Krispy Kreme donuts, pastries and loaves of bread.
Those who attended brought reusable shopping bags, cardboard boxes, laundry baskets and storage tubs to haul their Thanksgiving trimmings. Some brought small wagons and hand carts, too, to assist them in carrying the food.
With cardboard boxes and a handcart at the ready, Gino Johnson said he was grateful for the opportunity to get the items needed to provide a special Thanksgiving for his family.
He plans to spend Thanksgiving with his family gathered round, including his newest grandbaby, who is 9 months old.
Johnson said he is most thankful for his family, but is also thankful to Jesse Zermeno.
“He’s a very giving person,” Johnson said.
Helping to manage the well-oiled machine of volunteers parsing out food was Zermeno’s wife, Jann, who is looking forward to spending the Thanksgiving holiday with her family. Her father, her daughter, and her daughter’s four children will be coming home.
And, beside her family, Jann said she is most thankful for the “meaningful work” done through Operation Hope.
With the Thanksgiving Giveaway now complete, Operation Hope is turning its attention to the next major holiday – Christmas. To that end, the organization is taking up a collection of toys to hand out Sunday, Dec. 22.
Donations can be dropped off at Operation Hope between now and then. The organization is located at 12285 County Road 512, Fellsmere. For more information, call (772) 571-0003.
