quiet dedication
Story by Susan O'Connor, Photo by Dero Sanford

More than 1,000 people in need enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving meal each year at Jonesboro’s community-wide event, and Jim Grisham is the organizational force. He is humble, however, and seeks no accolades. Grisham is quietly dedicated.

The idea germinated in 1992. Grisham was part of a group of men at First Methodist Church that began a mission called Random Acts of Kindness. Each group member was charged with anonymously doing a kind deed for someone every week, then gathering to share thoughts about their endeavors.

“We decided to hold a Thanksgiving dinner for church members who didn’t have anywhere else to go,” Grisham said. “I noticed that First Baptist was doing the same thing, so I approached Julia Keiffer and said, ‘Why don’t we do this together?’”

So for two years, a Thanksgiving meal was cooked and served at First Baptist Church.

“I thought, ‘This thing’s working alright, but why don’t we do this for the entire city?’”

Grisham’s idea took off, and the first year for the citywide event was 1995. It has been successfully launched every year except 2002, when the death of a friend left Grisham unable to take the helm.
“I guess I’ve been the general chairman since it started. I can’t give it away,” he said laughing. “It’s kind of like organizing a Chinese fire drill — that’s my job.”

Every year, Grisham and Phil Panneck begin contacting area churches in late August to get the ball rolling. A meeting is held at First Methodist with most of the churches that have helped in the past represented. Each church agrees to donate a portion of the food or paper products, as well as donating homemade pies and cakes.

Grisham has applied for grants from Wal-Mart, which have been received in the past, and often other donors appear.

“Last year I was approached by someone who said, ‘I’ll make youa deal. If you’ll never tell anyone where it came from, I’ll write you a check for the entire cost of the meal.’”

Interestingly, the ministry extends beyond the borders of the event site, St. Bernards Auditorium. The group delivers meals to shut-ins, as well as those who work to serve the community on Thanksgiving Day, such as police, firefighters and ambulance workers.

“We also go to the emergency rooms that morning to see who might need a meal,” he said. “If you have someone who is in the ER, they weren’t planning on being there on Thanksgiving Day. We get a count of people who need a meal and deliver it to them.”

First Methodist Church takes care of reservations for meals, as well as the registration of volunteers.

“We serve the hungry, the homeless and the lonely,” Grisham added. “If you are the richest man in Jonesboro, you can come down and eat with us.
“There are volunteers at the door with nametags. They say, ‘Are you here to eat, or are you here to work?’ Some will say, “We are here to work.’ But they put on a nametag, then sit down and eat. They are embarrassed to say they are hungry. You get into that. And that’s okay.”

And, as is always the case in Jonesboro, help comes from many avenues.
There are key volunteers, Grisham said, such as Chris Barre, who last year loaded the addresses of homes where meals would be delivered into a computer program and gave maps to the drivers. About 17 churches assist with the effort each year, and a local Girl Scout troop makes table decorations. Several pianists provide dinner music. Butterball donates the turkeys.

Grisham’s entire family helps, with the exception of his daughter, who stays behind to cook the family’s holiday meal.

“It works now. It just works,” Grisham said. And each year, he is the last one to leave the building.