“Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” — Luke 14:13-14 (1)

Throughout November in the United States, the corporal work of mercy of feeding the hungry is performed in abundance. Countless people shop prescribed lists of cranberries, pumpkin, potatoes, gravy, stuffing and turkey so food pantries and churches can hand out bags and boxes brimming with enough food for economically strapped families in their community to have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner that they could not afford. But in the “Walking Horse Capital of the World,” Shelbyville, TN, less than two hours south of downtown Nashville and 90 minutes from the Alabama border, scores of people were treated to a special kind of Thanksgiving lunch lovingly prepared and joyfully served on a relatively clear and warm day Nov. 15.

As part of Project Give Back to God, Dr. Alex and Mrs. Merchie Fider, in a joint effort with the Filipino-American Association of Tennessee, Inc. (Fil-Am), serve “… the indigent Filipinos and Americans in dire need.” With an assist by officers and members of the Bedford County Sheriff’s Department, they geared up to serve at least 200 people — most of whom are patients and their families of the Fider’s clinic– their twist on a Thanksgiving meal.

All hand-prepared by Mrs. Fider, the spread of Filipino fare included egg rolls, wings, ribs, rice, noodles, soup, and much more to fill the belly and feel the love. In addition to the patients, the invitation went out by flyer and word of mouth to “VIPS such as poor patients, physically disabled, mentally challenged patients, homeless people, including their children, and most of all, people in dire need.” Held outside in back of the Fider’s clinic, cooperative weather was a must.

“For the past weeks, cold spell brought with wind chill came to TN while snow in the East Coast,” Dr. Fider reported to his Facebook friends. “Merchie and I prayed the Rosary at St. Rose of Lima Church, Murfreesboro, and St. Williams Church, Shelbyville, last week to beg Our Lady of Fatima to grant us the Miracle of the Sun that happened on 1917 in Fatima, Portugal.” Even though the weather turned balmy, they were prepared regardless. In preparation that, to passersby, probably looked like a set-up for a wedding banquet, rented tents and tables were brought in, in addition to portable toilets so diners had facilities to wash before and after eating.

For the Fiders, who immigrated to this country from the Philippines in the early 1980s, it’s not only an opportunity to commemorate the first Thanksgiving in the land, but also an expression to give glory and thanks to God for many blessings and share their native culture with their adopted homeland.

The Thanksgiving lunch began in 2015, but when Covid hit, it stopped. Thanksgiving 2025 marks not only the tenth anniversary of the first lunch, but also its revival since Covid. This lunch was the first one outdoors, and the Fiders were grateful for the favorable weather. “Merchie and I thanked Our Lady of Fatima for the miracle of the Sun and for giving joy to all of them,” Dr. Fider said.

Volunteers of the Thanksgiving lunch enjoy the day.

For people charged with preparing Thanksgiving dinner for their families and who find it exhausting and stressful, can you imagine making more than 200 eggrolls? Mrs. Fider begins some of the dishes early, such as the eggrolls because they are hand-rolled. “The cutting is difficult because you have to cut it very fine to roll it,” she said. She wouldn’t consider eliminating the eggrolls, either. They are a favorite of their diners who anticipate having them. Some of the foods, such as rice, can only be made the day of the feast. She shops the ingredients when she can, normally after a long day of running the clinic.

In the end, about 150 people came. Diners included children, wheelchair-bound patients, and folks with canes and walkers. “I also invited homeless people that we met on the streets and hanging out in gas stations,” Dr. Fider said. Any leftover food was packed up for to-go orders. Nothing was wasted and everything was enjoyed – despite the intensive work.

“We can’t ask a caterer to do it … it’s different,” Mrs. Fider said.

No skimping, no compromising. The volunteers treat folks like family, or rather, Very
Important People.

“The VIP guests may be angels in disguise,” Dr. Fider posted. “Amen.”

AI Feature photo of Filipino banquet created in Adobe Firefly by Mary McWilliams
Inset photo contributed by Alex Fider and used with permission.
Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition ©
2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are
used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved.

© Copyright 2025 by Mary McWilliams

Edited by Rietta Parker