11th annual Thanksgiving charity event, ROC Kids’ Thanksgiving Dinner, not only fills kids’ bellies, but also fills hearts with hope for change in local poverty- and drug-stricken communities.

November 17—Richmond, VA—A catered holiday feast will serve to steer many of Richmond’s inner-city families away from the normalcy of poverty this holiday season.

This November marks the 11^th year volunteers at The ROC Youth Center have cooked and served a hot Thanksgiving meal to hundreds of local inner-city youth.  This abundant feast that includes turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and honey wheat rolls is just one of many ways The ROC shows area children that people truly care and believe in them.

“The difference between this event and other holiday charity events is that we host events for these kids on a weekly basis; not just during the holidays,” Bus Ministry Director Rick Brown explains.  “It goes further than just a meal—we teach them important life lessons, like how to become a person of integrity and the importance of respecting authority.”

Along with The ROC’s Thanksgiving feast, dozens of dedicated volunteers sow into the lives of Richmond’s inner-city youth year round through various youth recreational and performing arts ministries, all offered to them at no cost through the Richmond Outreach Center.  Participating in The ROC’s youth programs demonstrate just as much effort on behalf of the child as much as the volunteer, in that their participation is contingent upon their compliance of rules such as exuding appropriate conduct on social media outlets, keeping grades up, and memorizing character-building Bible verses.  In addition, youth leaders offer counseling and teach age-appropriate lessons to youth who may be dealing with negative peer pressure or bullying.

The Richmond Outreach Center is a non-denominational, independent church with the primary purpose of serving individuals in the community.  With over 11,000 individuals served weekly, hundreds of volunteers and a dedicated staff utilize every available resource to provide basic needs to sustain positive change in the city of Richmond.