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He'll carry on Thanksgiving feast at least one more year

Darryl Jones made a promise to his grandmother that has become an all-consuming task.

By JON WILSON
Published October 30, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - This year might be the last for a Thanksgiving feed that began a generation ago when a generous woman used her savings to buy turkeys, then opened her home to the needy.

Darryl Jones, grandson of feast founder Rosa Jackson, has carried on the tradition since his grandmother died in 1996.

But now, Jones said, donations to support the event have declined and social service agencies often offer Thanksgiving meals elsewhere.

"Every year, volunteers and people come there to eat, (and) they say we'll see you next year. I tell them okay. I just don't want to come out and say it's the last year," Jones said.

"But this year, I'm thinking it might be the last year," he said.

Jones, 43, works in Orlando. Each year, he takes a few days off before Thanksgiving. He comes to St. Petersburg and begins cooking at home. He will grill about half a dozen turkeys and prepare another half-dozen in the kitchen oven. He might fry a few, too.

He'll also bake seven or eight hams and create the trimmings: dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, string beans, collards and punch.

The feast has fed up to 300 people at Campbell Park Recreation Center, 601 14th St. S, where the meal moved after it outgrew Mrs. Jackson's home on Eighth Avenue S. One year helpers accidentally took to the park the one turkey Jones had held back for his own family's dinner.

Mrs. Jackson began her holiday event in 1973. How it began is an oft-told tale. Recently retired from her job at the VA Medical Center at Bay Pines, Mrs. Jackson was feeling lonely. It was then, she often related, that the Lord spoke to her, telling her to ask someone over for dinner.

That she did, using about $1,000 in savings to buy the food.

Fifty hungry people arrived. The next year, 75. The feed became so popular it had to move to Campbell Park, where it has remained. It had become expensive enough that Mrs. Jackson asked others for help.

At Campbell Park, street people eat beside folks in jackets and ties. The needy come, and so do people who simply want to break bread with friendly companions.

"Haitians, Jamaicans, white, black, I've seen Hispanic, everybody," Jones said. "If somebody doesn't have somebody close by, they're coming here."

Jones never has suggested the feed might have to end because of a lack of contributions.

Putting it on is a big job. Nonetheless, Jones promised his grandmother he would continue it.

"I don't want it to be (the last year)," Jones said. "But my wife is telling me I don't need to look at it like I just quit. The way she put it to me, God used my grandma to get this started, and now a lot of churches and organizations have started, too.

"Even if I can't continue, the legacy and legend she started about what God laid on her heart is going on."

This year's event is scheduled as usual, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Campbell Park. As always, food and donations are welcome. To help, call (727) 327-7496.

[Last modified October 30, 2005, 01:13:18]