When you run in the Grateful Gobbler, this is who you help

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Every year the Grateful Gobbler raises funds to operate the Maclellan Shelter for families.

It’s Maclellen’s only fundraiser for the year.

Since opening in 2014, they’ve helped 750 families.

Our Kaylee Nix talks with the head of one of those families.

Anastasia Blakney and her girls Royal and Kaile were without a home, and desperate for help. She brought them up from Atlanta on the Megabus, and . . .

“So, I came on the 23rd, we stayed at the hotel, that was the last of my funds. And the next morning, we came to the Maclellan Shelter.”

It was there that she met Theresa Biggs, who’s been helping her family navigate their way to permanent housing.

CHA Housing Navigator Theresa Biggs says “God wrote this for me, and I’m out in the community every day, and I work with the Maclellan Shelter to help the families there, but I don’t only work with them, I actually work with many of the other organizations and agencies to help uh, those that are actually working with families and individuals that are homeless to help get them into permanent affordable housing as well.”

Blankney hopes to get her family into public housing soon, so she can get back to work.

“Once I get this public housing, I’m going to work. I’m going to go back to school. I’m going to be the best mom I can for my kids. And we’re not going to face this barrier no more.”

Ms. Blakney will settle into her new residence tomorrow.

Meanwhile plans are being finalized for this year’s Grateful Gobbler on Thanksgiving morning.

Last year it raised 200-thousand dollars for Maclellan Shelter.

This year the goal is 250-thousand. You can still register.