Thomas Lynn | The Valdosta Daily TimesBernard Perry, member of the 100 Black Men of Valdosta, gets a plate of Thanksgiving food at the 25th Annual Thanksgiving Food Fest. Perry and fellow members fed hundreds of people Saturday at the Salvation Army. 

VALDOSTA — Thanksgiving came early for people who stopped by the Salvation Army Saturday morning. 

For the 25th Annual Thanksgiving Food Fest, 100 Black Men of Valdosta gave away free Thanksgiving meals to people in the area.

Nathaniel Haugabrook, president of 100 Black Men of Valdosta, said the group cooked 45 turkeys, 40-45 pans of dressing, 40-45 pans of green beans and 40-45 pans of corn. 

The drinks, he said, were provided by the Salvation Army, which partners with 100 Black Men for the Thanksgiving Food Fest.

The group was charted in the mid-1990s, and Saturday marked the 25th year that 100 Black Men of Valdosta provided free Thanksgiving meals to the community, Haugabrook said.

“It’s just one of our ways to give back to the community,” he said.

He said the group usually feeds an average of 1,200 people and members deliver 175 full meals to nursing homes in the area.

Haugabrook said 100 Black Men of Valdosta supports the community in several ways. He said the four pillars of the group are mentoring, education, health and wellness and economic empowerment.

The cornerstone of the group is mentoring young men, he said. The group organizes mentorships with students at schools, such as Horne Learning Center, Valdosta Early College Academy and Lowndes Middle School. 

There are 14 chapters of 100 Black Men in Georgia, according to 100 Black Men of America, and Georgia has more chapters than any other state.

For more information on the Valdosta chapter, visit 100blackmenvaldosta.org. 

Thomas Lynn is a government and education reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256