dinner for seniors

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

Cornelius Griffin is a Giant with a heart to match.

He is living the dream of millions of little boys and young men all across the country.

After an outstanding career at the University of Alabama,

Griffin plays professional football for the New York Giants. He played in last year’s Super Bowl and was featured in "Sports Illustrated" as a "Ford Tough" award winner during the 2000 NFL playoffs.

Griffin was named one of the league’s most outstanding rookies last year and has a future in professional football as big as his heart.

With all of the good things that have come his way, Griffin has not forgotten his hometown of Brundidge and those who have helped him along the way.

During this season of giving, Griffin wanted to give something back to the community that has given so much to him in the way of love, support and encouragement.

On Wednesday, his mother, Martha Griffin and a host of good cooks from around the county will prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for senior citizens, shut-ins and those who would not otherwise have Thanksgiving.

However, the host won’t be there to greet his guest, but he’ll be thinking of them when he sits down to Thanksgiving dinner far from home in New York.

"Cornelius wanted to have Thanksgiving dinner for the elderly and shut-ins last year, but we didn’t get started in time," Mrs. Griffin said. "This year before he went to training camp, he reminded me that he wanted to have a Thanksgiving dinner this year. It was important to him and he didn’t let us forget."

Griffin planned the menu and he wanted "nothing to come from a can."

"We’re having turkey, ham, dressing, turnips, collards, sweet potato souffle, potato salad and cakes," Mrs. Griffin said.

And nothing will come from a can except the cranberry sauce.

Mrs. Griffin said the dinner would not have been possible without the help from the ladies in her church, Lily White Church of the Living God, the Jerusalem Campground and East Central Mental Health.

"Isabell Boyd, Jane Lambert and Kate Taylor helped organize cooks and we appreciate their help," Mrs. Griffin said. "We’re looking forward to the dinner and we except to have around 200 guests. I know that would make Cornelius happy to know that many people had a nice Thanksgiving dinner."

The dinner will be from 11:00 a.m. until 3 p.m. Wednesday at Brundidge Station.

For more information or to request delivery of a dinner for a shut-in call Martha Griffin at 735-2757 or Isabell Boyd at 735-5638.