Santa Cruz community Thanksgiving celebrations
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Thanksgiving Day food at the Veterans Hall in Santa Cruz Thursday was free for all and prepared with love by local chefs. The Girl Scouts rallied to decorate the venue.
"This community has so much spirit. It's love, it's aloha," said US veteran James Sclar. "The veteran's community, it's all here. [There is] so much love and so much happiness."
Veteran Sclar has been involved with the Vets Hall event for the past five years and says that he can relate to people needing services, having lived on the streets himself.
"I've been on the streets myself and can relate to every single person here who just needs a meal. Simple as that," said Sclar.
“I came down here to be with people on Thanksgiving because the worst thing you can do is be alone," said Steven Cooper, a food recipient at the event who got emotional while talking about people in need. "You don't want to be alone when everyone else is with their families."
Sclar, along with the other volunteers, were preparing for the event since 7 a.m. Thursday morning.
“Every year I take the same role as greeter, front desk person, and by doing it for so many years I've come to an understanding of what the roll is, which is to serve," said the event's head greeter and volunteer Brian Schulman as he handed participants $1 bills: "Here, happy Thanksgiving. It's for you, it's for you."
Down the street, the Santa Cruz Fellowship AA says that they provide free meals to everyone, membership or not.
"We do every holiday. Thanksgiving and Christmas are the two biggest ones, and we're going to be having another one in Christmas, which we will be serving turkey, ham and prime rib," said Craig, the facility's activity coordinator. So yeah, if you want to come down it's free and there's no membership required. Come on down and we'll feed you."
