More than 200 attend interfaith Thanksgiving service in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS – More than 200 people from a variety of faith backgrounds came together Monday night for the annual Thanksgiving prayer service presented by the Inter-Religious Council of Linn County.

Members of the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Baha'i, Unity and Unitarian denominations read prayers of their denominations.

“As a community we have many differences but there is so much more we have in common and for that we should be thankful,” said Alan Fletcher, president of the Inter-Religious Council. “As we think about Thanksgiving and what it means to us we need to be thankful for the little things we take for granted.”

Each year the Inter-Religious Council takes an offering and accepts donations for a designated non-profit within Linn County. This year's recipient is the Linn Community Food Bank, located in the basement of First Presbyterian Church, 310 Fifth St. SE, in Cedar Rapids.

Sue Pearson, the food bank's president, thanked the congregation and the council for its continued support and explained how the food bank works. Pearson said families who come to the food bank are given a three-day supply of food to get them through an emergency, regardless of their income level.

“As funds are available – and they have been – our clients also receive a cash voucher to purchase additional food at HyVee or Sav-a-Lot,” she said.

Families are allowed to visit the food bank six times each year, Pearson said.

In 2009 the food bank served 3,200 families, or 8,600 individuals. Through October this year, the food bank has served 2,900 families and given out $29,000 in cash vouchers.

“We are able to do this because we are funded and supported solely by the generosity of the community and these services,” she said.