Good Hope student Hanna Hancock, left, speaks to WWII veteran Thurman Ryan, right, at the 10th annual community Thanksgiving meal Wednesday at the school. (Christy Perry for The Cullman Tribune)
GOOD HOPE – The Good Hope community came together Thursday morning for its 10th annual community Thanksgiving meal. The school’s lunchroom was full of folks enjoying a great lunch and fellowship with their friends and neighbors. The topic of the Raiders’ upcoming quarterfinal playoff game Friday night was on most everyone’s mind.
Good Hope football players were all working hard alongside the school’s student government association, putting together lunch plates and running them to the steady line of cars.
They were joined by the school’s cafeteria staff, members of the city council and Mayor Jerry Barnett who said, “We have served 1,,300 meals for the community. (Councilman) Maxie Jones has delivered about 75-100 meals and the city employees have probably delivered about the same.”
Boy Scout Troop 241 did a great job directing all the traffic on and off of the school’s campus.
Thurman Ryan, a WWII Navy veteran, enjoyed coming to the school for lunch, saying, “It’s just me and my cat now. My wife passed away 10 years ago so it’s nice to have this for everyone.”
Good Hope senior running back and linebacker Matthew Schwaiger was all smiles as he and his teammates worked together; e explained, “We are having a good time doing something a little different as a team. My great grandfather was one of people who had wanted to start this years ago. He passed away years ago but now I’ve been helping for three or four years now. It’s a good thing.”
Schwaiger also spoke about the upcoming game, saying, “We are the last team in Cullman County still in the playoffs and we are feeling good. I do have friends in Addison, so I want to wish them luck.”
Good Hope High School Junior Class President Hanna Hancock and self-proclaimed “future mayor of Good Hope” and “dressing dipper” was very enthusiastic, saying, “I had a really good time!”
Bartlett was proud of everyone’s efforts.
“This is a great community event,” he smiled. “It’s a good opportunity for the clubs and groups to come together with the whole community.”
The community is also invited to the school’s community pep rally Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the school’s gym. (11-1) Good Hope will travel to (9-3) Oneonta for an AHSAA State Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup. The game starts at 7 p.m.
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