One Bite At A Time Ministries, a local nonprofit that supports cancer patients, hosted its first Gobble Up Cancer event on Nov. 26. The initiative pre-packed and delivered Thanksgiving meals for cancer patients undergoing treatment.
The meal-packing took place from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Fairmont Park Church, with deliveries occurring immediately afterward. One hundred families, ranging from 2 to 12 members, received the meals, which were distributed throughout the Midland-Odessa area and to the surrounding areas including Lubbock, Seminole, Wink, Lamesa, Monahans, and Andrews.
Paula Gower, CEO of One Bite At A Time Ministries, survived Stage 3 cancer and was declared cancer-free in 2015. According to Gower, her husband came up with the idea to provide Thanksgiving meals to other cancer patients in the community.
“One Bite At A Time is a cancer care ministry, working to walk with people through their battle with cancer,” Gower said. She said that what originally started as a turkey and pie delivery grew into a larger community effort, with local businesses and volunteers contributing to provide full Thanksgiving meals.
The meal packages also included information about One Bite At A Time Ministries and support groups and resources, and a stuffed elephant toy. “The significance of the elephant is that how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time, and how do you fight cancer? One bite at a time,” Gower said.
Gower said Gobble Up Cancer will continue its tradition next year.
