T.I. marks 20 years of giving: Inside Atlanta’s beloved Harris Community Works Turkey Drive
On a crisp Tuesday afternoon, just days before Thanksgiving, the parking lot of Jackson Memorial Baptist Church buzzed with the kind of energy usually reserved for festivals or film shoots.
Instead, the crowd had gathered for something even more meaningful: the 20th Annual Harris Community Works Turkey Drive and Pre-Thanksgiving Luncheon — an Atlanta tradition founded by one of the city’s most influential sons, Clifford “T.I.” Harris Jr.
Hosted in partnership with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and City Councilmember Andrea L. Boone, this year’s event served about 2,000 families, offering hot meals, turkey giveaways, and something that can’t be packaged — community, dignity, and hope.
Two decades of service
What began as a simple mission — to make sure grandparents and grandchildren could share a Thanksgiving meal — has evolved into one of Atlanta’s most significant holiday outreach traditions. Twenty years later, the Harris Community Works initiative has fed tens of thousands of residents and become a cornerstone of holiday support in the city.
Jackson Memorial Baptist Church once again opened its doors for the occasion. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., families gathered for hot meals, fellowship, and a reminder that no one is alone during the holiday season.
A city shows up
Standing before hundreds of attendees, Mayor Andre Dickens praised T.I.’s decades-long commitment to Atlanta:
“For 20 years, he’s been a great contributor to this community,” Dickens said of the legendary emcee. “Atlanta is a group project, and Tip and his whole family know how to show up and give a whole lot. What you’re doing is making a big difference—especially now, when so many are facing challenges around food.”
The mayor’s words drew cheers, as he reminded the crowd that a strong city is built on acts of service—large and small.
Councilmember Andrea L. Boone, long connected to the Harris family’s community efforts, echoed the sentiment. She honored the legacy of community leaders like C.T. Martin and praised the sponsors — from Publix to Comcast to Norfolk Southern — who help make the event possible each year.
“This family continues to give, give, give,” she said. “Look at what we’ve accomplished.”
T.I.: ‘All the glory goes to God’
When T.I. stepped up to the microphone, the crowd’s applause swelled. The rapper, actor, and philanthropist has worn many titles in his career, but just outside these church walls, he was simply a neighbor committed to service.
For Tip, who was born and bred and became a legend in the ATL, philanthropic endeavors such as these mean a lot to the multiplatinum and Grammy-winning artist.
“All the glory goes to God,” T.I. began. “I stand here today alive, free, healthy, and successful only by the grace of God.”
He thanked Mayor Dickens — recalling their day-one voter outreach efforts — along with Councilmember Boone, his family, Grand Hustle staff, and the dozens of volunteers and sponsors who helped bring the annual luncheon to life.
And in classic T.I. fashion, he closed with warmth and urgency:
“Most of all, thank you to the community, because it’s because of y’all that we’re able to stand here today. Happy holidays — and let’s go get to work.”
An Atlanta Tradition, A Family Legacy
With each passing year, the Harris Community Works Turkey Drive grows — not just in scale, but in its impact. What began as a neighborhood effort has become a symbol of Atlanta’s communal spirit, a reminder that generosity is the city’s heartbeat.