Project Refresh Serves 1,000 Thanksgiving Meals
Hundreds of cars lined up at May Park Thursday morning for free meals, showers, health screenings and transit rides.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Project Refresh distributed 1,000 free Thanksgiving meals at May Park in Augusta, Georgia, during its monthly Shower at May Park event. The event also offered free showers, health screenings and other support services.
Why it matters
The event gives residents access to meals, hygiene services and health checks in one location, and Augusta Transit provided free rides so people without transportation could attend. Its recurring format and reach across the city show how community organizations are meeting basic needs in Augusta.
Project Refresh distributed 1,000 meals at a single Thanksgiving event, and the monthly program has run for four years. The reported figures do not include total attendance, funding sources or the number of transit riders.
The players
Project Refresh
Project Refresh is a community program that runs recurring free shower, health screening and meal events for people in Augusta.
Lisa Ann Wheeler
Lisa Ann Wheeler is a health professional with the Richmond County Health Department who started the May Park event four years ago.
Augusta Transit
Augusta Transit is the public transportation system serving Augusta, Georgia, which provided free rides to and from the event.
The details
Project Refresh held its monthly Shower at May Park event with a Thanksgiving theme, offering free showers, health screenings and meals. Augusta Transit provided free rides to and from the event, and hundreds of cars lined up Thursday morning.
Timeline
Thursday, November 12, 2026: Free Thanksgiving meal distribution at May Park.
December 12, 2026: Next Shower at May Park event scheduled.
Philanthropy Context
The May Park event follows a four-year run of monthly outreach co-founded with the Richmond County Health Department, extending its screenings into a recurring service model. Its pairing of meals, showers and transit support reflects the bundled-services approach many local charities use to reach residents who lack reliable transportation.
Residents who need a shower, a health screening or a meal can attend the monthly May Park event at no cost. Free Augusta Transit rides to and from the site remove a transportation barrier for people without a car.
The takeaway
Recurring, low-cost community events that bundle hygiene, health and food services can reach residents who might otherwise go without. Checking local event calendars can help residents find the next date before it fills up.
What happens next
The next Shower at May Park event is scheduled for December 12, 2026.
Further reading
For more on local charitable giving, see Philanthropy coverage across Augusta.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wrdw.
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