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GVL/Ellen Hensel
Community meal: A local resident enjoys a Thanksgiving meal at the Deltaplex this Sunday.

Community benefits from local man’s prerogative

By Ellen Hensel
11/21/2008

Thirty rows above the Deltaplex racetrack where a lone miniature semi truck sat abandoned after a weekend of races, a community of people from all different backgrounds joined together over an early Thanksgiving feast.

The event was one of several put on by Rob Bliss, a man who began organizing monthly urban experiments starting in September. The Free Downtown Grand Rapids Thanksgiving Feast was held in the Grand Rapids Deltaplex located at 2500 Turner Ave. NW on Sunday. Organized similar to a potluck, attendees shared food and tables.

"I've always found the whole idea of community and bringing people together fascinating," Bliss said. "I like the idea of someone who is 8 years old sitting at the dinner table with an 18 year old (who) are complete strangers. And that the leftovers are being given out to the homeless."

The event differed from previous events, which included a September pillow fight and an October Zombie Walk. Five days before the event was scheduled to occur, Bliss received word that his original location, Calder Park, was no longer available, sending him scrambling for a new location. When Deltaplex offered to host the event indoors, Bliss took the offer gladly.

"I was about to cancel the event but I was happy to hear that they would host it," he said. "It was difficult to come up with an (event) for the month of November because of the weather. Since we weren't able to hold it outside I thought it would be a good idea to host a feast that people from the entire community could come to."

With people of all ages sharing stories and food, the event also had a charitable purpose. All food not eaten was donated to the homeless of Grand Rapids, mostly due to the work of citizen Charlie Snedeker.

Food pantries are not allowed to accept food that is not prepackaged. However, Snedkeker was able to find a loophole. During the event, volunteers were packing boxes with sandwiches and any leftovers to then be hand delivered to the homeless of downtown Grand Rapids.

"We contacted Rob (Bliss) and asked him what was going to happen to the leftovers," Snedkeker said. "He said he didn't know and they might just have to dump it. We knew that we could help out and make sure that people who need this food can get it."

Snedeker works with several organizations, including Harvest for Heartside, which also helps to provide food for the homeless.

"Really, it is just all about community," he said.

Grand Valley State University freshman Katie Allen was one of few GVSU students who attended the event. Allen attributes low attendance by GVSU students mostly to the event's more secluded location.

Allen added she attended because of Bliss' reputation for providing interesting and unique activities.

"I have come to some of the other urban experiments and this one in particular is a great way to interact with people you wouldn't otherwise," she said. "It brings people of all different races, ages, backgrounds and experiences together. Really, that is just what Thanksgiving is all about."

ehensel@lanthorn.com

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