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Homeless Invited For Thanksgiving

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 3, 2007

Updated: 11/01/2007 08:22 pm

BRANDON - He might have been homeless, but Victor Lund certainly wasn't anonymous.

On the contrary, dozens of family members, homeless people and those seeking to help the homeless gathered at one of Lund's hangouts, Able Body Labor on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, on Oct. 20 to honor Lund and say their final goodbyes.

The man they all called "Vic" died when he was hit by a car Sept. 28 trying to cross State Road 574. An Air Force veteran, Lund was 50 when he died and had lived on the streets for years, even though his family was willing to give him shelter and get him into drug and alcohol treatment.

But Lund told the Rev. Cynthia Pinckney, founder of a nonprofit organization that feeds and clothes the area's homeless, that homelessness was the life he was used to, the life he felt he deserved.

Among those on hand for the informal memorial service were Lund's daughter, Shannon Quintana, her husband, Jamie, and their son.

"Shannon told me she was so grateful for everything we'd done for her father and wanted to volunteer to help our ministry," Pinckney said. "It just so happened I was looking for someone to do blood-pressure checks for the upcoming Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless, and Shannon is a nurse."

That's often the way Pinckney finds volunteers for Cynthia Pinckney Ministries. They often are people she has helped, or friends of those she has ministered to. Many are area residents who have learned about her ministry through churches or articles and show up with food and good intentions on food distribution days.

Pinckney, a Seffner resident, rarely makes assignments or worries where the food, clothing and toiletries her ministry gives out will come from.

"God always provides," she said.

However, a bit more planning is going into the ministry's fourth annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner for the Homeless, Hungry, Needy and Displaced from noon to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 22, thanks to the community's support.
First United Methodist Church of Brandon, which last year joined Pinckney in hosting a Christmas dinner for the homeless, has offered the use of the Bill Carey Unit of the Boys & Girls Club, 213 N Knights Ave., for this year's Thanksgiving dinner. In past years the dinners were held under the pavilion at the Brandon Recreation Center on Sadie Street.

In addition, Kaye Marshall, of Catering by the Family in Tampa, has volunteered to provide the food for this year's feast - except, of course, Leroy Pinckney's famous fried turkeys. Cynthia Pinckney jokes there would be a revolt if her husband didn't fry turkeys for the annual event. In addition, the Hyway Foundation in Gibsonton donated 48 hams.

Last year, the ministry fed more than 250 people. They were among an estimated 2,000 homeless people living in woods, abandoned buildings and beneath overpasses in the Brandon area, according to the Hillsborough County Homeless Coalition. This year, with the depressed economy and more publicity, Pinckney anticipates twice as many guests at the dinner. She also expects a lot more volunteer help.

"Six years ago, when I started this ministry, I put a plaque on my bedroom wall that read: 'Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.' He was giving me the OK to go forward with my ministry," she said. "As soon as I hung that plaque, a great weight was lifted from my shoulders, and I knew that it would all work out."

Her work with the homeless began when a man approached her and asked for a piece of bread while she was working in her yard. Pinckney made him a sandwich. Every couple of weeks after that, she would set up a table in her yard with a sandwich and drink for the man.

"All he wanted was food," she said. "He'd never ask for any more than that. I thought he was an angel."

Pinckney believed he carried a message from God: Her mission was to help the homeless, first by feeding them and eventually by establishing a center to help them train for jobs, find homes and connect with support agencies.

"I want to stop the cycle of poverty, one family at a time. I'm just waiting for God to open those doors for me," she said.

In addition to serving turkey dinners, volunteers will give the homeless and needy haircuts, basic manicures, pressure-point massages, clothing, school supplies, toiletries and shoes. Brandon magician Robert Horning has volunteered to make balloon animals and paint faces, the Christian band Xtreme will provide music, and various agencies will be on hand to provide resources.

Still needed are people who can provide transportation and help Pinckney set up starting at 5 p.m. Nov. 21 and 9 a.m. Nov. 22.

Those who can't be on hand Thanksgiving Day can help in other ways. The ministry needs donations of new socks and underwear for children, school supplies, backpacks, men's work boots, travel-size soap, shampoo and lotions, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, cotton balls, cotton swabs, men's and women's socks and underwear, alcohol swabs, shavers, blankets, combs, pop-top canned food, packaged dry foods, juice boxes, individually packaged crackers, cookies or cheeses, nonrefrigerated pudding cups, plastic bags, individually wrapped toilet paper, wash cloths, pocket-sized facial tissue packs and drinking water.

Gift certificates and monetary donations are needed, too. Donations are tax-deductible.

"Checks and money orders are always appreciated," Pinckney said.

Last year, Vic Lund was among those who enjoyed a hearty Thanksgiving meal, courtesy of Pinckney Ministries. He said he couldn't remember the last hot Thanksgiving meal he had. He had no way of knowing it would be his last. But he didn't blame anyone but himself for homelessness.

Instead of feeling sorry for himself, Lund warned others away from the life he was living in an interview that Thanksgiving Day.

"What I want people to know is get away from the dope," Lund said. "Stay away from the drugs, stay away from the alcohol, and hold onto what you've got. Just don't slide. Don't let it take you under. That's what I want to say, and it's the best way I can say it."

For information, call (813) 571-1556 or e-mail cynthia pinckneyministries.com. The ministry's Web site is www .cynthiapinckneyministries .org.

ABOUT THE MINISTRY

•Cynthia Pinckney Ministries was founded in 2001 and was assigned a nonprofit status in 2003

•It hosts monthly community outreach activities and has fed and provided clothing for more than 2,500 men, women and children

•More than 4,000 pounds of canned and staple food items have been distributed by the ministry

•The program has furnished three homes for the needy, supplied furniture for more than 30 others and provided temporary shelter for five families

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524 or dlwhite@tampatrib.com.

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