海角大神

Chia Morgan vividly recalls the fall 2009 dream 鈥� one she firmly believes was a message from God 鈥� that inspired her to organize her first Thanksgiving dinner for needy city residents with just two months鈥櫶齨otice.

鈥淚 was feeding kids and their families a Thanksgiving meal, and it felt amazing,鈥� says Ms. Morgan, whose dinner, now an annual event, is called Blessed to be a Blessing. The dinner,听named in part for Morgan鈥檚 thankfulness for being able to give back, marked its 10th year on Tuesday. 鈥淏ut the only food I distinctly remember is the mashed potatoes 鈥� and I don鈥檛 even like mashed potatoes,鈥� she says with a laugh as she bought last-minute door prizes Sunday night at a local Walmart.

Today Blessed to be a Blessing boasts a DJ, dancing, and local celebrities 鈥撎齮he mayor and police chief made appearances this year 鈥� who serve home-cooked food to more than 600 city residents.

Morgan鈥檚 effort, one of many charity meals being served across America this holiday week, is an example of how a community can be strengthened when one person sees an unmet need and takes action. Her annual Flint dinner is now backed by a wide range of entities: private donors both large and small, the local community foundation, a credit union, Morgan鈥檚 father鈥檚 church and its nonprofit, and the local Catholic Charities office that hosts the event.

Morgan鈥檚 dream woke her one cool September morning, with the nation in the shadow of a deep recession. She says she quickly got ready for her work day, hopped in her car and drove to a friend鈥檚 job to share her vision. 鈥淪he was like, lets make it happen,鈥� says Morgan, who friends describe as an unbelievably energetic community activist and natural giver.

鈥淔or certain people, this is the only opportunity to have a Thanksgiving dinner,鈥� explains Morgan, who annually pulls all-nighters to stage the event. She likes to say that the meal includes 鈥渁nything you would have at your gramma鈥檚 house for Thanksgiving, down to the German chocolate cake.鈥�

鈥淲e got no funds right now,鈥� says Chrystal Williams, a 34-year-old Flint native and mother of two who brought her 13-year-old daughter Yanni and her one-year-old daughter Fatiah to the dinner this year after her mother saw a story about it on a local news station. 鈥淚t made a big difference. I didn鈥檛 know what we were going to do,鈥� says Ms. Williams, who is currently unemployed.

Morgan is a care coordinator at the Hurley Medical Center in Flint by day. Her job is to help patients who are victims of crimes such as sexual assault and gun violence get the support they need once they leave the hospital. Morgan says she herself has lost two close friends to gun violence.

Her work in Flint, one of America鈥檚 poorest, most dangerous, and most traumatized cities, has drawn the admiration of many in her community. The single mom鈥檚 enthusiasm led her to make an unsuccessful run for city council in 2017, but community leaders say they believe her political future could be bright.

鈥淪he鈥檒l run again, and she鈥檒l find her place in the politics of this community, because she cares that much,鈥� says Isaiah Oliver, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. 鈥淪he鈥檚 doing amazing work鈥�. The water crisis [involving lead pollution] accelerated and catapulted her work.鈥�

Another signature event of Morgan鈥檚, known around town, is an annual summer resource fair for Flint residents at a neighborhood park. The fair connects residents with everything from affordable health-care plans to free haircuts.

Blessed to be a Blessing is an听example of the lengths the rare person like Morgan will go to ensure those less fortunate have an authentic holiday experience.

The dinner 鈥渕akes people feel good inside, and reminds them they are still loved,鈥� says Garrett Rice, a longtime Flint resident and co-worker of Morgan鈥檚 who volunteered at the event and dropped off a donation of socks last week. 鈥淪he鈥檚 really about helping people.鈥�

Morgan鈥檚 supporters include the public safety department at the local community college, which she and her mom attended alongside one another.听The pair went on to attend college and graduate school together, and both hold a master鈥檚 degree in public administration from the University of Michigan-Flint.

Her mother, Debra, cooks most of the food that is served each year, including the yams, the dressing, and mashed potatoes. The greens and green beans are all grown in the garden tended by Morgan鈥檚 father,听Will, the pastor at Pentecostal Temple Apostolic Church in Flint, which like many Flint churches is small but highly active. He is also the president of Well of Hope, the church鈥檚 nonprofit and a sponsor of the dinner. Another hat Morgan wears: Treasurer on Well of Hope鈥檚 board.

鈥淚f there鈥檚 a nonprofit organization in the community looking to make change, Chia is normally there,鈥� says DeAndra Larkin, a vice president at the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce. 鈥淲hen I see Chia at something, she has a really good vibe and energy, so usually I know that it is going to be a good conversation.鈥�

Morgan鈥檚 plans for the first Thanksgiving dinner started off piecemeal. As word of mouth spread, one person would offer a can of corn, and so on. Someone else offered a cake from a regional grocery chain. Morgan laughed recalling those early offerings听as she she sorted donated socks with 9th-grader Zaire Riley, for giveaway at the dinner.

The teen volunteer says, barely above a whisper and with a sheepish smile, that 鈥渋t feels nice to be helping out.鈥� Morgan verifies volunteer hours for students like Riley, and says it鈥檚 nice to have an opportunity for younger volunteers who aren鈥檛 as outgoing to be able to help in a more private setting than a big volunteer-heavy event.

Thousands of socks are given away at Morgan鈥檚 dinner each year. Morgan started giving out donated socks after she noticed some of those in attendance weren鈥檛 wearing any.

Morgan鈥檚 first Thanksgiving dinner fed 100 people, and spread mostly on word-of-mouth.听Today, it is annually highlighted in advance by local media. Morgan advertises heavily on听social media and receives donations via Amazon from strangers she never meets.听

Morgan grew up on Flint鈥檚 north side, which has the rougher reputation. She says that, as other residents moved out amid a decline in automotive jobs, her parents decided to stay 鈥渢o be a light in the neighborhood.鈥�

鈥淭hat鈥檚 where my love for the community came from,鈥� says Morgan. 鈥淢y parents are my lifeline.鈥�

She grew up in a home that took in numerous foster children; one where her father often introduced kids from his church and in the neighborhood as his own. He bought winter coats, shoes, bicycles, and even threw birthday parties for children who had less than his own three. Morgan, the middle child, has a 6-year-old daughter everyone refers to as MRB. She often helps out at events her mother organizes.

鈥淚鈥檓 very proud of my daughter,鈥� says Mr. Morgan, Chia鈥檚 father. 鈥淲hen she sees a problem that touches her heartstrings, she tries to address it.鈥� He calls her a 鈥渂eautiful spirit鈥� with a charismatic daughter 鈥渁bout as well known as Chia.鈥� He adds that she 鈥済rew up in a home full of love, surrounded by family.鈥�

Sometimes the obstacles she and her father have faced together are daunting. An event Morgan organized that connected police, community organizations, and young people to combat violence went on for three years, but then lost momentum after the air conditioner was stolen at its community-center location, her father recounts.听

But people who know her say听she鈥檚 not at all easily deterred.

鈥淪he鈥檚 a go-getter, when she gets an idea in her mind, she鈥檚 gonna make it happen,鈥� says Vicky Schultz, CEO of Catholic Charities of Shiawasee and Genesee, which has hosted Morgan鈥檚 dinner for years. When Morgan has an idea, says Ms. Schultz, who volunteered at the dinner this year, 鈥測ou don鈥檛 think twice, you just get on board.鈥�听