NORFOLK  — Tom Anderson was taught well.

His great, great grandmother, Mary Hinkson, played a huge role during the Great Depression.

“She was instrumental in feeding people in the city of Philadelphia during the Great Depression,” Anderson said about that period from 1929 until the late 1930s when there was a severe worldwide economic downturn that saw high rates of unemployment and poverty. “When I was little, my grandfather always told us stories about it. And he said she would feed the block. So that was instilled in us.”

Nearly 100 years later, Anderson is carrying on her legacy.

Earlier this week, he had nearly 30 members of his Landstown High track team show up at his church in Norfolk to prepare Thanksgiving boxes for the less fortunate.

Anderson, who has been the school’s only track coach since the school opened in 2001, said giving back is something that he’s always done. It was passed down from his great, great grandmother to his grandfather and to his father.

“It was always about giving back,” Anderson said. “My father always made sure that we understood that our gifts weren’t our gifts, but they were to be shared with someone else.”

So for three days earlier this week, athletes showed up to the historic First Baptist Church on Bute Street to do whatever was needed. Pack boxes. Separate produce. Move bags of foods.

And they enjoyed every minute of it.

“I thought it would be fun to give back and help others, especially for our whole track team to do it,” said Landstown senior sprinter Anaiah Wiggins, who helped out on Sunday and Monday. “It taught me to be grateful for what we have, and not to take anything for granted.”

Teammate Marco Phillips said helping out was something he looked forward to doing.

“Honestly, I thought it would be cool. I thought it would be really fun to come out here and help people,” said Phillips, a senior sprinter. “I’ve been wanting to get into community service, but I haven’t really known how to do it. So, when he told us about it, I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to try to do as many days as I can.’”

Why did Phillips and Wiggins feel it was important to take part?

Thomas Anderson, track coach at Landstown High School in Virginia Beach came to the First Baptist Church Community Outreach Center in Norfolk Monday afternoon, Nov. 24, 2025, with members of the track team for a community service activity. They unpacked food that will be distributed for Thanksgiving. (Bill Tiernan/for The Virginian-Pilot)

“I’ve been blessed, and I know there’s a lot of unfortunate people out there,” said Phillips, who was a state qualifier in the 4×400-meter relay last outdoor season. “It’s kind of like, I have to give back to the community. The community gives to me, so I have to give back.”

“It’s taught me to always be grateful and never dwell on your situation, because somebody else’s could be worse,” added Wiggins, who was a state qualifier in the 100 and 4×100 relay. “We’re more than just track athletes or students. We really care about our community.”

Many First Baptist Church members were there to assist the athletes, to give them direction and to encourage them, including their pastor, the Rev. Jerry Holmes.

He talked about the difference Anderson and his athletes were making, especially in a community where there is a food desert, as there are no grocery stores close by.

“What a teacher can mean in the life of a student is incredible, and especially when it goes beyond the classroom and into the community,” he said. “That’s what’s going to change and shape our communities for the better. To bring out kids from diverse backgrounds and different neighborhoods, but coming together for a common cause to help humanity. That’s what it’s all about. They are making a difference in this community.”

Anderson said his athletes take part in activities year-round since he’s been at Landstown. Next month, he plans a toy drive for Christmas.

“It’s not about us, but about others,” he said. “It’s just something that I believe in with my spirit. We’re doing this with a higher calling and a higher meaning. We express this every day in some form or fashion. It’s not just for the holidays.”

From left: Jadyn Bazemore and Noah Gentry, both members of the Landstown High School track team, help unload frozen turkeys from a truck Monday afternoon, Nov. 24, 2025, at the First Baptist Church Community Outreach Center in Norfolk. The track team members were there doing a community service activity with their coach Thomas Anderson who teaches Health of PE at Landstown High School. Bazemore is a sprinter and Gentry is a shot putter and discus thrower. (Bill Tiernan/for The Virginian-Pilot)

After talking with Anderson, Wiggins, Phillips and Holmes, I’m reminded about the message in Matthew 25:40, which says, “Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.”

The verse signifies that acts of kindness and compassion shown to people in need are considered to have been done for Jesus himself. The verse emphasizes that serving others is a way of serving God.

Anderson knows his athletes will be better people because of what they’re doing. And, who knows, these athletes could be our future school superintendents, teachers, doctors, lawyers and coaches.

“As a coach, I am extremely thankful for who they are and what they do,” Anderson said. “And so when I hear people say, ‘This young generation is lost,’ they don’t know these kids. I’m excited about our future.”

Before leaving I asked Phillips, who spent two days there, what he was going to be doing on Thanksgiving Day.

“I will be with my family for Thanksgiving,” he told me. “But I know that everybody isn’t going to have a family to spend time with on Thanksgiving. I just hope everyone stays blessed.”

Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com

https://www.dailypress.com/2025/11/27/rubama-high-school-track-thanksgiving/