What started as a simple idea — a shared meal in the heart of town — unfolded Wednesday night into something far larger, as nearly 200 Virgin Islanders gathered at Emancipation Garden for the inaugural Thanksgiving Community Dinner hosted by May Leader and Friends.
For three hours, the park became a shared table, a crossroads of stories, and a rare moment where neighbors from every corner of St. Thomas came together with no agenda beyond food, fellowship, and gratitude.
The evening began quietly, with prayers and reflections from community voices who set a tone of warmth and welcome. Those early moments felt like the start of something intimate, but as the crowd grew — elders arriving with friends, young families settling onto benches, familiar faces from nonprofits and local agencies mingling with those who simply needed a hot meal — the heart of the gathering revealed itself.
Local chefs, meanwhile, took the lead on the feast: Chef Benji of Blue 11 and Indigo 4, 11-year-old Chef Alexandre of the BVI, and Barefoot Buddha’s Chef Cory. Together, they shaped a menu that pulled from both tradition and place — Thanksgiving staples layered with Caribbean flavors that felt rooted in home. By the time the trays came out and the serving line opened, the atmosphere had shifted entirely. Long conversations formed in the line, laughter carried from table to table, and the park filled with the smell of herbs, roasted vegetables, and every imaginable dessert. Truckloads of donated food and beverages ensured that no one went without; each person left with a full plate and a sense of satisfaction that went well beyond the meal.
Music from The Eljhaie Braithwaite Project & Friends threaded through the night — jazz that softened the edges of the park and turned it into something that felt like a neighborhood block party. Between songs, vendors and local organizations moved through the crowd, sharing resources, checking in, and reconnecting.
It was during those moments that May Leader, founder of May’s Kitchen, felt the heart of the gathering most clearly.
“I felt so happy and grateful looking around and seeing our entire community represented,” Leader said. “People experiencing homelessness shared a meal with government officials, and everyone belonged. That’s rare — and exactly what this gathering was created for.”
The gratitude extended to the volunteers, whose work before, during, and long after the event made the gathering possible. “This wasn’t just about my vision for the community,” Leader said. “It showed the love and care we all have for one another. Without my amazing team, there is no way I could have accomplished this.” She also acknowledged WSTA, DJ Robbie, Lawrence Boschulte, 90.9FM, and AllAhWeTV for amplifying the effort and bringing people to the park who otherwise might never have heard about it.
The inaugural dinner drew support from Race Track, the Epsilon Zeta chapter of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., Laurie’s Legacy, and dozens of other individuals and organizations who contributed food, services, and hands-on help. For more, visit mayleadervi.org.
St. Croix Source
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