Gratefull GVL is hosting a meal for 5,000 friends, and everyone is invited to share in the fun and fellowship
Head to downtown Greenville around lunchtime the Monday before Thanksgiving to check out a quite unique dining spot.
You can’t miss it: just look for all of the community tables on the Main Street Bridge.
And since the hosts of Gratefull GVL are expecting more than 5,000 guests, you may be sitting near somebody you don’t know—maybe a friend you haven’t yet met. That’s the hope, anyway.
Gratefull GVL is designed to bring together everyone in Greenville, regardless of race, creed, political affiliation, or socioeconomic background, for a free meal, a warm welcome, and engaging conversation in the heart of the city. The food will be donated by local restaurants, including Table 301, and an army of volunteers from local organizations will handle the logistics.
Gratefull GVL was launched by Gather GVL’s Mary Beth Cross and philanthropist Laura Halter Sardone as a way to foster and celebrate the blessings of friendship, community, connection, inclusion, and understanding. The first meal, in 2019, was a sight to see, remembers LaTonya Phillips, president of Habitat for Humanity of Greenville and honorary co-chair, along with Mayor Knox White, for the 2024 event.
“The sight of community members gathered on the bridge, sharing a meal and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds, was truly inspiring and a day I will never forget,” says Phillips. “While COVID forced a hiatus, I’m thrilled that Gratefull GVL is back bigger and better than ever, highlighting the power of unity and the many blessings this community shares.”
Gratefull GVL 2024 is a not-to-be-missed event that will feed hearts and bodies, and an occasion that Greenvillians will remember for years to come.
Any donations generated beyond those needed for the event will be used to support Mill Village Farms’ FoodShare Program.
