For many years our family has enjoyed Thanksgiving on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. That started years ago when daughter Tami volunteered each Thanksgiving Thursday at Rosa Jackson's meal:
Many organizations offer free Thanksgiving dinners to those who need it. Many people volunteer their time and/or money to make this happen. What's different about Rosa Jackson's? She believes that it's more than giving food, it's giving dignity, and abundance.
No buffet lines for Rosa - her hundreds of guests sat down at tables, and are served their Thanksgiving dinner, and they're offered a glass of wine as well, if they choose.
Why would we insist on celebrating on Thursday instead of Sunday, when we should be grateful we can celebrate at all?
Rosa Jackson's dinner is served today from 1 to 3 pm at the Campbell Park Recreation Center, 601 14th St S., St. Petersburg.
This may be the last one. Rosa Jackson started offering her free holiday dinner in 1973 - 34 years ago. At first she used her own money, but as the gathering grew she sought donations. Rosa died 11 years ago, and her daughter and grandson continued the tradition. Her daughter is now 69 and her grandson, Daryl Jones, has moved to Apopka, though he still comes back to smoke turkeys in his mother's back yard. They promised they'd keep doing it, as long as they could.
Barbara Jo - we did, indeed.
Adam - You're so right. Once we had Christmas in July. Now, we didn't have that in lieu of the usual Christmas, but did make an extra one for those who missed it - hung stockings and all.