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Bea Gaddy Volunteers Prepare For Thanksgiving Feast

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Thanksgiving is just a few days away and volunteers at Bea Gaddy are preparing for their annual holiday feast.

Jessica Kartalija reports they still need more help.

Bea Gaddy's Thanksgiving feast is a Charm City tradition and the biggest in Baltimore. Now, with just a few days to go, last-minute donations are pouring in.

"We provide medical care throughout the year but doing something special like this brings our company together in a very special way. We look at this as another way we can give back to the community," said Dr. Sanford Siegel, Chesapeake Urology.

Named for a former city councilwoman, Bea Gaddy started the tradition 30 years ago. Hundreds of volunteers serve thousands of people, many with nowhere else to go.

"Bea Gaddy was an institution here in Baltimore for so many years and when she died, there was a threat this was going to go away," said Siegel.

Fortunately, that didn't happen. Her daughter now serves as executive director.

"It's starting to pick up today so we are cautiously optimistic that we are going to be able to make my mother's 30th Thanksgiving dinner," said Cynthia Brooks, executive director of the Bea Gaddy Family Center.

They're still running low on corn and potatoes and hoping people will continue to donate.

Gaddy died of breast cancer in 2001 but her family carries on her legacy.

For more information or to make a donation, click here.

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