Community Cafe: Eastern Jackson County group helps people with hunger today, hope for tomorrow [Video]

JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. (KCTV) – The Community Services League in Eastern Jackson County helps out nearly 20,000 families every year by connecting them with services that provide food, shelter and job opportunities.

This Thanksgiving, they helped 300 more.

More than 50 volunteers prepared the holiday meals at the Blend Well Community Cafe, according to CSL’s Jennifer Manuleleua. The event was sponsored by Cornell Roofing & Sheet Metal.

“We made 20 smoked turkeys, three whole hogs, 170 pounds of mashed potatoes and gravy,” Manuleleua said. “We had about 220 (people) last year, which was more than double for the year before.”

READ MORE: ‘Happy and full’: Bringing a taste of home to the restaurant table this Thanksgiving

The coffee shop is open Tuesday through Saturday, and it provides a place to meet, and helps CSL boost workforce development.

“It really is an opportunity for us to hire and partner well with local small businesses, especially those that are black …