For Lavanda “Miss Bonnie” Earl, the Monday before Thanksgiving is her big day. That’s when she launches her annual assault on hunger.

Called the Grand Family Gathering, the operation required nearly a year of planning, during which Earl stockpiled his weapons. This year, it was 400 turkeys; 200 restaurant-sized cans each of yams, collard greens and green beans; 300 boxes of stuffing; 250 pounds of rice; and lots and lots of buns. She topped it off with 400 sweet potato pies for dessert.

Among the 200 to 300 members of its all-volunteer army, many are members of Christian Compassion Church in Southwest Philadelphia, where Earl also worships. Earl requires volunteers to be trained for the mission – as drivers, culinary helpers and packers – so they are relieved of their duties. She has no time for chaos once everyone reaches the assembly area of ​​MacAlister Hall in Drexel University.

And just as clear are his marching orders, which Earl says come directly from Jesus: “Feed my sheep.”

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In other words, Earl explains, it is the Christian’s obligation to care for the dispossessed. “When you see a sister or brother going through a difficult time, it is our duty as Christians to care for them. »

Turning this mandate into action is a mammoth undertaking. Earl has led the Great Family Gathering since its beginning in 2002. He has served more than 80,000 meals since its inception.

The gathering began as a dinner for up to 500 shelter residents, held in the former First District Plaza Ballroom at 38th and Market streets. The church would provide transportation and provide not only food but also an evening of entertainment. COVID-19 put an end to this event, and what emerged was an operation that is bearing fruit.

This year, Earl said that will mean cooking, packaging and delivering more than 6,000 meals to nearly 70 shelters, as well as distributing food to three street locations — one in Kensington and two in West Philadelphia — for those who are homeless. .

The number of people they serve each year has increased since the pandemic — an indication, in Earl’s view, that economic hardship due to COVID-19 is not over for many. Earl often hears about people losing their jobs, seniors making difficult decisions between paying for their medication or paying for food, and shelters overflowing with residents, many of whom are children. The number of Philadelphians experiencing homelessness increased for the third straight year in 2024, according to the Office of Homeless Services’ (OHS) annual point-in-time homeless count.

» LEARN MORE: Homelessness increases in Philadelphia for the third year in a row

A family tradition of feeding those in need

Growing up in West Philadelphia, Earl and his sister Sabrina Adams, who is the head cook at the Great Family Gathering, watched their mother, Thelma Blanchard, practice radical hospitality daily by feeding home-cooked meals to friends , neighbors, church members and strangers. . “We were always in church and were taught not to be selfish,” Earl recalled.

One day, Blanchard invited a man and his young son from church to their home for a meal. Hungry and without permanent housing, the man and his son benefited from Blanchard’s cooking — “Everything was her specialty,” Earl said — as well as the housing she provided.

Before leaving Philadelphia, the man had earned some money and handed Blanchard the keys to a restaurant he had purchased for her. Blanchard’s Chicken Diner was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for years at 17th and South streets.

“Cooking is not new to me,” said Adams, who helped her mother prepare for customers.

Giving is true joy

Earl was at MacAlister Hall at dawn Monday. “We will feed ourselves until all resources are exhausted,” she said.

Feeding the masses and providing 1,500 gift bags costs between $30,000 and $40,000, most of which is donated by organizations themselves. Keystone firstwho has been a sponsor since the beginning; Brown’s ShopRitewho brought all the stuffing and pies; And Amoroso Bakerywho donated the scrolls. Earl also opens a GoFundMe counts donations each year. This year she raised $3,885 of the $30,000 requested, but the Church of Christian Compassion will guarantee any shortfall.

Now, Earl will take a short break, enjoy his own Thanksgiving dinner, and start thinking about next year. She has plenty of thank you notes to send to sponsors and volunteers, but she also wants a boost in securing commitments for next year’s big day.