A group of volunteers from Kyle, Texas decided they would come down to Port Aransas and set up a Thanksgiving dinner as a way to help. The reason for doing so, as explained by Deborah the organizer, “Our hearts are with Port Aransas.” So she began to organize a Thanksgiving dinner for all Port Aransas residents. She made a point in telling me that she never asked for volunteers. All her help came from those who wanted to be a part of something beautiful. All the volunteers live in the greater Austin area which is a three and one half hour drive to Port Aransas.
As you enter the cafeteria there is a place to fill out a name tag. This one idea had everyone feeling that they knew everyone else.
Here are some folks beginning to arrive.
More arrivals
There was ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans, and corn. Notice the smiles of the volunteers
Of course a roll too.
The tables were set with festive decorations.
There were pies, cookies, and cakes for dessert along with a big pot of coffee.
This is the wonderful family from Kyle that took it upon themselves to reach out with full hearts and share the joy of Thanksgiving with a town in need. Many thanks to you all.
This is a shot of the cafeteria from the outside.
I wanted to put in a photo of the H. G. Olsen Elementary School which is right next door to the cafeteria to give you an idea of how much planning it must have taken to secure a venue for the Thanksgiving event.
Here are a few of the temporary buildings now known as Olsen Elementary School South Campus.
As a footnote to this story, I was at the hardware store after taking the photos. While I was there two meals from the Thanksgiving event were delivered to the two employees working. Both were overwhelmed by the generosity of the folks from Kyle Texas.
Fiction Favorites 
Beautiful! The joy in the faces of the Kyle folks says it all. Love is given and returned multiplied.This is a true Thanksgiving feast. Thank you, John, for this reminder and blessing. 🙂
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I was really taken by their countenance. I think I might have been in the company of angles, Gwen. At least it felt that way. Thank you. 🙂
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Great people! Great story! Great party, dear John!
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Thank you, Maria. 🙂
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It is terrific to see people joining together to help those that are in hard times due to no fault of their own. Dinners like this here are unfortunately abused by people looking to get something for nothing. Thank you for showing this this and Happy Thanksgiving!!
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We always have the something for nothing types, GP. We see them every day here. I can only imagine that Karma will catch them in the end. What was so heartwarming about these folks was even if you were a something for nothing person, you were still welcome. Thanks GP.
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John, you’ve brought out how truly heartwarming this event was. I’m so glad you shared it with us here in the blogosphere. Have a sublime Sunday. Hugs.
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You as well, Teagan. Hugs and stay warm.
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You stay warm too! Autumn lasted about five minutes here (straight from too hot to too cold). Winter paid no attention to the calendar — it’s already here. o_O. Here’s to hot mulled wine… Okay a little while from now. 😉
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Ha ha ha. It is hot mulled wine time in Sweden.
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These are the the stories that prove the goodness of strangers!
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I have to believe there are more of these kind of people in the world, Pam. I’m so tired of hearing about the other kind. Thanks for the visit. 🙂
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A very special day, John. There are a lot of wonderful people in this world and it does our hearts good to hear about them.
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These good people deserve recognition. I wish we would only see stories of this kind. Maybe there would be more if we did. Thanks, Robbie.
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Thank you for sharing this special event with us, John. I loved seeing the smiling faces. Happy Sunday!
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They were special people, Jill. Thanks.
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Thanks for sharing a wonderful story, John. Those people did a beautiful thing.
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They sure did. I was impressed by the peaceful smiles each offered to those entering the door. They made the event.
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Thanks for sharing this feat of amazing generosity. You make Texas and my home province of Nova Scotia seem closer in distance than they really are.
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We are all neighbors, Lynne. Thank you for the warm thought. 🙂
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Is there any pie left?
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Not a scrap. Sorry Greg. 😀
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This story gives me hope for the human race.
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I have to agree. Their faces tell the story.
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Reblogged this on Jan Hawke INKorporated and commented:
Wonderful altruistic human spirit stories still coming in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey! Thanks for sharing this heart-warming event, John! 😀
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Thank you, Jan for sharing as well.
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Wonderful!
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I agree. 😀
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I find these stories much more interesting than what they offer in the news these days. These things are important too.
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I agree. The mainstream news is designed to depress. I like uplifting.
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Totally agree – would rather read wonderful stories like this any day.
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Thank you, Teri.
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That is epically awesome. Good to see positive stuff on the Internet.
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Thank you, Charles.
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God bless all those helpers that appear in times of need!
Have a wonderful Sunday, John,
Pit
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Thank you, Pit. You as well.
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🙂
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Things like this reinforce the fact that there is something very good and decent within the human spirit even though you wouldn’t always know it from watching and reading the news of the day. Happy Thanksgiving, John!
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Thank you, Ron. Happy Thanksgiving to you. I think it is possible to look at the positive examples of human behavior if only to offset what is perceived to be negative. 🙂
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What a wonderful Feel Good event … for the volunteers as well as for the residents! Thank you, John, for spotlighting it. Bet there were some good friendships made over the course of this one!
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Thank you, Debbie.
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What an inspiring event and such kind and loving people. Events like this fortify my belief that there are many genuinely good-hearted people out there, despite all the hate we hear about on a daily basis. Thanks for this wonderful post, John. ❤ xx
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Thank you for the lovely words, Vashti.
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❤
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This was wonderful, John. It restores my faith in humanity and that love will always overcome hate. You must have been so proud to be part of this. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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This makes me smile. A wonderful way to help a neighbor.
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It is for sure. Thanks, Audrey.
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This is great!! Thanks for sharing. This kind of thing restores my faith in humanity. This is an idea I am trying to spread this holiday season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hidlnk1NC10&t=5s I hope that if you like it you will share it in any way you can. Thanks! Rita
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I like your idea. Thanks for sharing it.
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Great! I hope you will share it! Imagine what could happen if it really caught on? 🙂
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It’s so lovely to hear all about the kindness and generosity of people, John. I hope everyone had a great day. I’d have certainly loved to have helped out.
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I should have let you know it was going on, Hugh. Next time. 😀
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It seems it was “something beautiful!” I wonder if many of those that volunteered to help Port A had visited before and fell in love with its charm or just felt the need to help a fellow town in need? Either way their generosity is amazing. You have done your part to spotlight the many volunteers!
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Thanks, Jo. There was only one who had been to Port A before. I think these folks had big hearts.
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Wow! This almost made me tear up. The fact that the good decent people out there truly do outnumber the evil and bad does the heart good!
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It does, Jan. Thank you.
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What a beautiful thing for the folks of Kyle to do! When people open their hearts like this, it is a win for everyone. Thanks for sharing this heartwarming story, John.
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Thank you, Michelle. You are so right about win-win
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What a wonderful event! Thanks for sharing, John. ♥
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Thank you, Billy Ray. Tt was a nice event.
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How wonderful John… such kind people and much appreciated I am sure.. x
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Spirit lifting it was. Thanks, Sally.
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How lovely. 🙂
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Thank you, Marje. 😀
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🙂
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🙂
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That was just lovely, John. Great pictures. Sorry, this comment is so late. I’m still catching up after having Wi-Fi trouble for several days. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I know how it is. Thanks, Suzanne.
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