REACH provides Thanksgiving dinners to hundreds Downtown

MEMBERS OF THE REACH/CARES ORGANIZATION, DOWNTOWN, NOV. 21. (PHOTO BY ROB TAYLOR JR.) The New Pittsburgh Courier has covered high school students like Xair Stevenson, a star player on the Pittsburgh Obama Academy (USO) football team, for his flashy runs, timely touchdowns, and team leadership. Last Thursday, a week before Thanksgiving, the Courier found him again, but this time, he was in another capacity—helping those who are less fortunate. “You can be a better person,” Stevenson told the Courier. “Everyone needs somebody every day, and you never know what the person’s going through and what they need at the moment.” TRUE KINDNESS—REACH’S THANKSGIVING DINNER GIVEAWAY. (PHOTO BY SHEILA BEASLEY) Stevenson, 17, was joined by other students like Kyshawn Robinson, 16, Elijah Gist, 17, Brashear High School graduate Rafael Diaz and 19-year-old Ryshawn Saunders, and the many members of the REACH/Cares organization, for REACH’s second-annual Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway. It was held from 4 to 5 p.m. at the corner of Sixth and Smithfield streets, Downtown. More than 300 people, many of whom are homeless, received hot foods from the organization. The REACH organization came out of Rev. Glenn Grayson Sr.’s “The Center That Cares” initiative, which also has under its umbrella...