Idle Hands Ministries, a local nonprofit dedicated to recovery and healing through service, held its second annual Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 12 at Westridge Apartments. The initiative, which provides a “festive meal to community members in need,” served over 70 people this year.
Paul Greene, founder and executive director of Idle Hands, explained how service is a core part of the ministry’s mission. “We wanted to reach out and do something for the community during the holidays,” Greene told Midland Times. “So we got together, put our ideas in the hat, and Westridge Apartments was a unanimous vote.”
The organization regularly serves at locations such as The Fields Edge and Mission Agape once a month, as well as at The Baptist Crisis Center once a week. Greene said that the holiday meal was a natural extension of the ministry’s work to give back to the community during the Thanksgiving season.
For the meal, Idle Hands selected local catering company MACS BBQ to prepare the food. The cost of the meal was covered by NRG Realty Group and Idle Hands Ministries.
“We love serving, and we love seeing the impact it makes on the ones we serve,” Greene said. “There is one thing that is guaranteed about serving—everyone involved is going to be blessed by the opportunity. It doesn’t matter what kind of mood I’m in when I show up, I always leave with a smile on my face and my heart.”
Idle Hands Ministries encourages local residents to participate in its ongoing programs and events. For more information, including a schedule of upcoming activities, visit idlehandsministries.com.