Excitement Builds for Racing to Feed Asheville Event
This Thanksgiving season, the charming city of Asheville is gearing up for a heartwarming celebration of community and compassion! On November 24th, from noon to 6 p.m., the historic Arthur Edington Center will host the much-anticipated Racing to Feed Asheville event. With an Italian twist to this year’s feast, residents can look forward to a delicious meal while helping to spread joy and solidarity.
Bringing the Community Together
The brainchild behind this wonderful initiative is none other than Asheville native and WNBA champion, Rhonda Mapp. In her second year hosting this event, Rhonda is thrilled to create an atmosphere of unity and compassion in her beloved hometown. “This is Year Two of my dream to bring a spirit of unity, compassion, and excitement to my hometown,” she shared with enthusiasm.
Rhonda, a proud graduate of Asheville High School, explained that the idea for this pre-Thanksgiving dinner stemmed from her desire to foster meaningful connections within the community. “It is my mission to attempt to empower my community to thrive by fostering more equitable access to food and opportunities,” she stated passionately.
A Festive Italian Feast
Attendees can expect an Italian-themed holiday dinner prepared by the talented Chef CI from Miami. With a menu featuring lasagna Bolognese, chicken Parmesan, roasted vegetables, salad, and dessert, it’s sure to be a hit among families! To add to the festivities, every family that attends will receive a free holiday turkey to take home, providing another meal to cherish together.
“Ms. Mapp wanted to serve something other than turkey, since families will get a fresh turkey to take home with them,” shared Angela Clemmons from the Housing Authority of Asheville. This thoughtfulness shines brightly as they aim to ensure families leave with not just full bellies but also plenty of options for future meals.
Special Guests and Entertainment
As if the festive food wasn’t enough, the event will welcome some exciting guests, including former NFL Rams linebacker Leonard Little and acclaimed actress/producer Vivica A. Fox. Vivica has graciously accepted Rhonda’s invitation to host this year, aiming to bring further attention to the essential cause supporting the community.
“Rhonda is heavily invested in the community and giving back to the City of Asheville,” Angela explained. “And Ms. Fox wanted to come and see what the needs here are.” With Rhonda’s family also joining in to help, it’s truly a community effort up and down the line!
Feeding Many, Giving More
This year, the event aims to serve 800 meals and give away 250 turkeys, significantly increasing last year’s totals. All together, it’s a monumental effort to help combat food insecurity in the area. The event has already completed six feeding tours and has served over 25,000 people through various feeding events across the region.
Entertainment for the afternoon will include music from DJ Supaman and The Virtuous Band, making for a lively atmosphere filled with joy and laughter!
A Call for Community Involvement
Everyone is invited to partake in this inspiring event, and it’s promoted through flyers and social media to ensure no one misses out. Families can simply show up to get a meal and register for their holiday turkey upon arrival. If anyone wishes to lend a helping hand, they’re encouraged to volunteer. Interested individuals can reach out to Angela Clemmons at AngieCClemmons@gmail.com.
As Rhonda Mapp said, “By working together, we can help create a more equitable and food-secure future in Asheville.” It’s moments like these that truly remind us of the power of community and the importance of coming together for a noble cause.
