John Chance challenged all of the businesses in Selma to pick out five families in need and give them a holiday.

On Tuesday he was setting the example by donating enough food to feed about 150 to 170 families to the House of Praise Church of the Living God.

“It’s important to give year round,” said Chance, who recently moved back to Selma after spending 25 years away. “But this time of year it is especially important. This is my way I can give back for what I am blessed with.”

House of Praise pastor Delois Johnson was excited for the gift that her congregation received.

“I was just so excited when he (Chance) came to me,” said Johnson. “I could not believe all the stuff. In this community every year we try to give and give, this year God sent us someone to give back.”

For Chance, the holiday giving didn’t just begin this year, but instead has been going on in different cities for the past four years.

“Last year we were able to feed 65 families in Prattville,” said Chance. “We were able to provide Christmas for about 150 families in Clayton. It’s just a great way to give back to the community.”

Chance said that he would leave the distribution decisions to the church.

“We are going to hand out bags of food to each of the individual families for Thanksgiving,” said Johnson. “We are just so happy to be able to do this.”

After the gift was given, Chance once again urged the community to participate.

“If every business picked five families to feed we could feed this entire community,” said Chance. “Who wouldn’t want to see that happen?”