By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

SHELBY COUNTY— Columbiana’s Union Missionary Baptist Church and Corey Wilson, owner of Klassic Services, teamed up to provide Thanksgiving meals for some of the work release programs around Shelby County Nov. 24-25.

“The event was to show the community that we need to stick together and to bring more unity into the community,” Wilson said.

Wilson visited participants in the work release programs in Columbiana, Vincent and Chelsea to deliver ham, turkey, dressing, vegetables, potato salad and desserts.

He said that he was in the same position as some of those individuals are today, and a hot meal can change the attitude of men and women. Knowing that a company or individual cares is enough to help them make a change, according to Wilson.

About 110 people benefitted from the Thanksgiving meals, and Wilson said it was only made possible by donations from companies, such as Johnny Rays, Columbiana Family Dentistry, Main Street Florist, Publix and more.

“They had an open heart and were really blessed,” Wilson said. “They felt like nobody cared. When those people saw me and saw what I was doing for them, it was a blessing for them and they opened their heart.”

Wilson said he enjoys being a doer and a helper for the community, and that everything he does is to grace God. Having had a dark period in his life, Wilson said he wants to help people turn around and make better decisions.