Organizations prepared to provide Thanksgiving day meals along the Central Coast
CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION-TV) --Many will be sitting down to home cooked meals this Thanksgiving. Those who are less fortunate might have some luck with some non profits stepping up to feed those in need.
The spirits are high as the holiday weekend approaches with volunteers and community members ready to give back through the comfort of food. The holiday is a time for friends and family to get together over a warm meal. It's also a time to give back.
At the Monterey County Fairgrounds, volunteers are hard at work to prep food to go for residents. Over 2,500 meals are expected to be given out to members of the community on site or through meals on wheels.
“There's a lot of homebound seniors and we do the transitional centers and the group homes and whoever needs help. We do the encampments and we do just whoever needs help,” co-chair and CFO of Community Dinner Organization Trish Jackson said.
170 turkeys have been prepped for the meal, along with stuffing, potatoes and other sides.
One volunteer has helped since the 60s for both Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
“I guess it's just one of the things that I enjoy doing and going out helping people and staying busy, staying active," volunteer Shirley said.
These meals will be served up between 12 to 2 p.m. For not only residents of Monterey, but neighboring cities such as Pacific Grove, Seaside, Carmel and Marina.
In Salinas, the American Legion Post 31 is also preparing meals for their annual event.
The military always talks about camaraderie. People come in together. A lot of the service members that we have here that run this American Legion, they know camaraderie," Army veteran Tony Virrueta said.
Meals are being served starting at 11 a.m. with the goal to serve 800 people.
"One of our members here, Chris Graham, has been cooking ten turkeys a day since Thursday last week. We’ll be serving 50 turkeys and approximately 40 hams," American Legion Post 31 post commander J.J. Hughes said.
All this effort to give back to those in the community.
“I have enough. And all these people here have enough. They just want to give back that thanksgiving and be grateful for everything that we have," Virrueta said.
A dinner will also be served by Dorothy's Place for homeless community members from 12 to 2 p.m.
