Free Thanksgiving meal scheduled Saturday, Nov. 21

You are invited to a free Thanksgiving dinner that will be served to the public at 11 a. m. Saturday, Nov. 21, in the Nathan Dean Community Center of Rockmart.

Floreace Stocks has coordinated this effort to help people since 2008. Initially, family members included Kevin Stocks, Kaisha Stocks and Kentasha Stocks. Romanda White, Jose White, Michelle Ivy, Mary Weaver, Louise Murphy, Diane Crosby and others also volunteered to help.

The first year, more than 50 people arrived at Post 12 Legion Post for a meal of turkey, dressing, vegetables and sweets. In 2014, the number totaled more than 200.

Mrs. Leah Redden has been named the Teacher of the Year at Cherokee Elementary School.

Mrs. Redden, an educator for 25 years, is an EIP teacher in the 3rd and 5th grades. She has also taught 3rd grade Writing Lab and ELA at Cherokee, 3rd and 4th grades at Eastside in Rockmart and 2nd grade at Main Elementary in Rome, Ga.

She received her Bachelor of Science and Masters degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of West Georgia and a Specialist degree in Leadership and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial. She is a native of Cedartown and graduated from Cedartown High School.

Mrs. Redden is a sustaining member of the Cedartown Junior Service League and a member of the Second Baptist Church in

In 2015, Stocks invites everyone to come and enjoy chicken, ham, turkey and dressing, green beans, cream potatoes, corn, rolls, tea and dessert.

This year, entertainment will be provided and face painting will be available for the children. Additionally, a special visit from Santa is scheduled.

Hopes are a larger crowd will come to the November event.

Stocks said the project is in honor of God and the blessings he continues to pour out on her family, friends and others in the community.

“From 2001 to 2003, I worked with Tallatoona,” she said. “I was touched by the need of so many people in this area and I wanted to find a way to help them.” Cedartown. She is married to Keith Redden and they are parents of 2 children, Alec and Alyse.

She enjoys traveling and her favorite place to visit is the beach.

“Teaching is not what I do,” Mrs. Redden said. “It’s what I am. Not only is education important, but so are the relationships formed along the way. I love getting to know the children and discovering what it is that motivates each individual to learn.”

After discussing the idea with family members, they decided to host a Thanksgiving meal and seek support from the community.

Initially, it was challenging to create interest since people found it difficult to believe that one family wanted to do so much. After the idea was launched, other volunteers joined the effort.

“We decided to make it an annual event once we observed the response and outpouring of love from churches, individuals and others who wanted to help,” Stocks said.

She hopes that more individuals, churches, groups, businesses and industry will give for the 2015 meal. To date, Meggitt has been a major contributor.

For more information on t his effort, call Stocks at 678719- 1981.