More than 100 unsheltered people got a hot Thanksgiving meal on Thursday at a “Gratitude Day Dinner” organized by the Black Lives for Humanity Movement.
The meal included Navajo tacos, turkey, mashed potatoes, fruit, and pumpkin and apple pie, and was served in a vacant lot near 400 South and 500 West in Salt Lake City. Dave John, who is Navajo, cooked the Navajo tacos with the help of volunteers. John is known for traveling around with a portable kitchen and cooking meals for unsheltered people.
Black Lives for Humanity Movement founder Ty Bellamy said the group wants to show unsheltered people extra care around the holidays.
“We want to let them know that they are loved, they are supported, and that they do have family because a lot of them don’t have contact with their biological families anymore,” Bellamy said. “And so we want to rally around them extra tight ... and give them that extra hug.”
The group also distributed clothing and blankets to the attendees. Lane Neaman played a drum and sang southern Oklahoma-style round dance songs.
Also on Thursday, volunteers delivered nearly 100 more meals to unsheltered people in camps around the city.
