This Christmas, volunteers with the Seventh Annual Dawson Feed the Hungry event distributed a total of about 1200 hot meals to people throughout Dawson and its surrounding counties. 

According to event organizer Scotty Seay, this year he and the volunteers who helped with the event were able to both deliver meals to those in need of one and to serve meals to others in person.

“We had a little bit more walk-ins than we’ve had in the past,” Seay said. “Usually it’s a majority delivery and this year was a majority delivery too but there were more that actually came in this time and got carryout or sat down and ate with us, so it was nice to see that and I encouraged that too.” 

Despite supply chain and delivery issues this year that made it hard to get the necessary supplies for the event, Seay said that it was a huge success. 

“Of course with the supply chain issues and everything, this year was a struggle to try to get supplies, but by the grace of God we managed and He provided like He always does,” Seay said. 

The meals consisted of a full menu including chicken, pork, sides and desserts that were donated by community members and prepared hot in the kitchen of the Dawsonville Pool Room. Seay said that the goal of Feed the Hungry includes not only providing people with a hot meal, but being there for them emotionally and spiritually too. 

“It’s called Dawson Feed the Hungry but it’s not always about food,” Seay said. “You could be hungry for something spiritual, you could be lonely and need to get fed a little encouragement or maybe you need a hug or a shoulder to cry on or somebody else to talk to.” 

According to Seay, the event would not have been possible without the dozens of people who volunteered to donate their time, money, resources and encouragement. 

“Surrounding counties and Dawson County went above and beyond like they do every year — I can’t thank all of the volunteers enough for the prayers, the calls, the encouragement, the donations,” Seay said. “I’m just so humbled and blessed; I couldn’t do it without the wonderful folks in the community all coming together for a great cause and on a special day which is Jesus’s birthday.” 

The volunteers ranged in age from adults all the way down to children, who Seay said loved getting to help put desserts or rolls into the boxes. Among the children who volunteered were Seay’s own grandchildren, which he said was the best Christmas present he could have asked for. 

“We’re all just a big fellowship family, and I couldn’t be more blessed and more thankful and in debt to everyone that contributed to this event this year and all the years,” Seay said. “And I got to have all four of my grandkids this year helping me with the event which was a wonderful Christmas present and a blessing for me.”

Seay said that, throughout the seven years that he has been organizing Feed the Hungry, he’s gotten a lot of people thanking him for all he does. But his goal, he said, is not to be thanked but to do all he can to give back to others.

“It’s not about me; I don’t wanna take the credit for it, but it’s about paying it forward and doing God’s work,” Seay said. “As long as I’ve got a breath in me this is gonna keep going; I’m gonna keep chopping wood and putting boots on the ground to do Jesus’s work.” 

Seay added that he wouldn’t be able to make Feed the Hungry happen by himself, so he’s extremely thankful to all of the volunteers and to the owners and staff of the Dawsonville Pool Room for giving them a space to prepare and distribute food from. 

“It takes a village, and I couldn’t do it without the wonderful volunteers, the donations and the help of many,” Seay said. “I get it started and the volunteers make the well-oiled engine run; it’s a sight to see and you can just feel the presence of Jesus there.”