Fayetteville Today

A Fayetteville church is continuing a recent tradition of giving thanks to those who serve by feeding Fort Bragg soldiers ahead of Thanksgiving.

Manna Church and Two Brothers Catering have partnered to distribute holiday meals to some of the 54,000 soldiers attached to Fort Bragg.

"It's like a good feeling because that means you guys are thinking about us and sometimes you don't get that a lot, especially over here,” one soldier, Jodison Lassen, said in a recent ABC11 report. “So it's good to be noticing other people noticing us.”

Military personnel, especially those in their first enlistment, tend to miss their families most around the holidays, and this food program helps get them through the tough time.

"People from the community, plus having your fellow soldiers around just makes the holidays that much better,” Caleb Constantin, also a Fort Bragg soldier, said. “It's almost as if I never left. I still have family here."

Manna Church said volunteers distributed more than 750 meals to soldiers at Pike Field, calling the program a simple way to show its appreciation for the many soldiers and veterans in its community.

"For a lot of people, especially the younger soldiers, this might be their first Thanksgiving away from home,” Jordan Gill, the Admissions of Outreach director of Manna Church, said in the report. “This is an opportunity for us to show them some love, let them know that they're cared for."

Brad McLawhorn, a co-owner of Two Brothers Catering, agreed.

"To be able to work with the military community through our 21-plus years just gives us the opportunity to give back to the soldiers and the families that put it all on the line for us every single day,” he said.

Manna Church plans to host more holiday outreach events as the holiday season progresses, Gill told ABC11.