The Thanksgiving meal giveaway, put on by Mama Boone’s son, will take place Saturday, November 22 at 9 a.m.
SAN ANTONIO — A Thanksgiving tradition on the east side — rooted in one woman’s mission to feed the hungry under a highway bridge — continues this weekend as Gospel Vision Ministry prepares to give away more than 600 turkeys and full holiday meals to families in need.
The giveaway will take place Saturday, Nov. 22, at Greater Love Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1534 Peck Ave. The event begins at 9 a.m., and families often line up well before sunrise. San Antonio police will be on site to help direct traffic, and distribution will continue until all turkeys are gone.
Reverend James Robinson, president and founder of Gospel Vision Ministry, said the need this year is especially high.
“We’re expecting it to be very big… because of what’s going on in the world today and the SNAP benefits,” Robinson said.
With support from the San Antonio Food Bank, families will receive a turkey along with dinner rolls, stuffing, canned vegetables and even a few bicycles. Robinson urges anyone planning to attend to arrive early.
“Now, community, if you haven’t been to my events, you need to get there early because the line will be super long,” he said.
A Mission Born Under a Bridge
Saturday’s giveaway is a tribute to Robinson’s mother, Verna Mae, known across the east side as “Mama Boone.” For 50 years, she fed the city’s homeless under Interstate 35 and the former Durango Bridge, now César Chávez Boulevard. Even after being confined to a wheelchair, she continued serving hot meals to anyone who needed one.
Robinson recalls a night when he was a teenager, sent to buy food for those waiting under the bridge.
“It was like 34 degrees,” he said. “I came back with some cold cuts, and she was very upset. She said, ‘If you were homeless, would you want to eat some cold stuff? Take all this stuff back and get some hot stuff.’”
More than a decade after her passing, Robinson continues the work she started.
Year-Round Service to Families
For 21 years, Robinson has organized an annual back-to-school giveaway serving families throughout the east side. The event typically features 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies, free haircuts, free braiding, free bikes and numerous food vendors. Since the program began, Gospel Vision Music Ministry has reached an estimated 1.5 million children.
During the pandemic, Robinson and volunteers distributed food boxes and essential supplies to families who suddenly lacked access to basics.
“When the government is… shutting everybody down and telling them no, and little old me reach out to a lot of people and they tell me yes — that makes my day,” Robinson said.
He added that he initially planned to skip this year’s Thanksgiving giveaway, but his grandchildren encouraged him to continue.
“I was going to take a break… but my little grandkids say, ‘Not today, Papa,’” he said. “So we’re back at it, and we will be giving over 600 turkeys away.”
The mission, he said, still moves him deeply.
“I’m getting chills just thinking about it,” Robinson said. “It’s a blessing.”
Kickoff Giveaway Monday
Ahead of Saturday’s event, Gospel Vision Ministry will host a smaller warm-up giveaway at Little Fish Factory on South W.W. White Road. The first 15 people in line on Monday will receive a free turkey.