Bradenton Salvation Army feeds Christmas dinner to area's homeless, less fortunate

BRADENTON -- A bustling dining room in Bradenton buzzed with chatter Christmas Day.

Mostly men -- and a few families -- sat at round tables with plates of ham, green beans, a dinner roll and sweet potatoes before them. Candy canes accompanied each plate.

The Salvation Army of Manatee County Christmas dinner at 1204 14th St. W., Bradenton, had just began at 4:30 p.m. Friday and 40 volunteers were already moving quickly around the room serving the area's homeless and less fortunate.

Sofia Munoz, 10, was one of the volunteers. The Ellenton resident walked carefully around the dining room, holding a large jug of lemonade and making sure cups were filled.

"Since I know that I get presents from Santa, and I know some people who don't really. ... I just want to help out and give back to them," Sofia said as she stood beside her mother, Michelle Munoz.

Michelle, 36, said it was her daughter's idea to volunteer. The mother and daughter were placed on a waitlist before being contacted about serving Christmas Day.

"I love to watch her and love to see her with the people and talking and speaking with them," Munoz said as she looked down at her daughter. "It gets me choked up. I love it."

Melissa Fernandez, Salvation Army volunteer and special events coordinator, said the organization welcomes as many people as come for a meal.

"Today, we have prepared a meal for up to 500," she said. "We're ready, the food is hot, we have 40 volunteers here ready to serve and share a warm Christmas greeting to anyone in need."

Though she won't have a final count of people who came to eat Christmas dinner until Monday, Fernandez said she expected it to reach at least 300.

A line of people formed outside the Salvation Army before doors opened. Josh Wyatt, 22, homeless for a few months, said a friend told him the Salvation Army has really good food on Christmas Day.

"I'm homeless, going through it right now. ... and this is where to eat," he said.

Originally from Cincinnati, Wyatt said he came to Florida with a friend whose fiancée and children live in the area.

"We kind of split paths and ... I'm really trying to get back home," he said. "That would be my goal. ... Figure out how to get back home."

Wyatt said he has made a few friends here, but tries to stick to himself.

"I'm missing my family a lot," he said, his eyes tearing up. "They're upset with me because I took off and just kind up of up and left. ... so now they're just done with me."

Inside the dining room, Marvin Nichols ate a meal at a table with two other men. He said the food was really good.

"I feel good, but I miss my kids and I miss having a home -- to be with my wife," the 60-year-old said.

Nichols said high medical bills caused him to lose his house in Bayshore Gardens in 2014.

"I'm trying to find a house for me and my wife," Nichols said. "It's hard to do that when you only make $1,000 a month as it is."

Nearby, volunteer Krystle Lincoln served people hot plates of food. The 31-year-old is visiting from Centreville, Va., where's she's moved from Manatee County.

"It makes me feel good, just coming out in the community where I'm from -- born and raised -- and to help out," Lincoln said. "It's amazing just to volunteer my time and I'm definitely going to do it again."

Chandler Whidden, 24, also came to volunteer with his sister, Cassidy Whidden, 22, and Cassidy's fiancé, Tony Springmann, 23.

"The biggest thing here is seeing a big picture of awareness," Chandler said. "A lot of people in the holidays -- whether it be Thanksgiving or Christmas -- forget that there's more than one side. We can all say that we're fortunate enough to have good family and tradition. I think, for me and my family and my friends, we wanted to start a new tradition and truly give back to the people around us because, at the end of the day, we are all connected."

Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter@AmarisCastillo.

This story was originally published December 25, 2015 at 8:02 PM with the headline "Bradenton Salvation Army feeds Christmas dinner to area's homeless, less fortunate ."