Albany police serve annual Thanksgiving dinner

ALBANY — Judging by the long lines at the Albany Civic Center Tuesday evening, rain didn’t damper the 4th annual community Thanksgiving Dinner presented by the Family Protection Unit of the Albany Police Department. Volunteers served nearly 1,000 people eager for a Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings.

The idea is to “build a bridge” between law enforcement and the community, said Nathaniel Clark, commander of the APD’s investigation bureau.

“Like all law enforcement agencies around the country, we have a duty and an obligation to serve the community,” Clark said. “This is just one way we at the Albany Police Department have of doing that — by teaming up with the community, preparing a nutritious meal and serving it.”

Police officers want to do more than “write traffic citations,” Clark said. They also want to fellowship with members of the community, listen to their concerns and later on to address those concerns.

“This is a time when we should think about how good God has been to us,” Clark said, “And thank Him that he has allowed us one more day, and for the insight He’s provided in us so we can go the extra mile for someone less fortunate than us.”

As the event progressed, attendees moved along the serving lines, selecting fresh fruits, desserts and drinks, as well as dinners of ham, turkey or chicken, dressing, greens, pasta with cheese and rolls. Some gathered up their complimentary feasts to dine at nearby tables. Others took their meals — in Styrofoam containers — to eat at home.

The idea was to “serve up every bit,” officials said, without a single crumb left over.

“We’re hoping to serve more than 1,000 people tonight,” said Gabriel Martin, pastor of The Eagle’s Nest Church in Arlington, one of the project’s sponsoring partners. “It has nothing to do with whether you’re homeless or needy. We just want the partnership to be a blessing to the community. We actually deliver the dinners, if need be. The Albany Police Department has a heart. They protect and serve, and this is a part of that service.”

In addition to the traditional dinners, and a chocolate fountain with marshmallows for the kids, Martin said this year’s dinner provided a special food table with choices for diabetic diners.

“We decided a few years ago to provide more community outreach programs like this one,” said Sgt. Kawaski Barnes with the Family Protection Unit. “And this is one of those. This is our fourth community dinner and every year it’s grown.”

Barnes said 100 percent of the food and services for the annual dinner are provided by volunteers and donations from churches and other organizations. Police officers and personnel do kitchen labor to help the night succeed.

Along with The Eagle’s Nest, other sponsors included Albany Parks & Recreation, Hank Vinson Meathouse, Carter’s Grill and First Baptist Church of Albany.