Throngs of LA County volunteers feed the needy on Thanksgiving

Staff and news service reports

On a day the nation pauses to count its blessings each year, armies of volunteers pulled together mammoth meals and tons of other resources for the needy across Los Angeles County on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27.

The Midnight Mission was among the organizations serving free Thanksgiving meals to homeless and indigent people in the region, with nearly 2,000 homeless and near-homeless people expected.

Sixth Street in front of the Mission in Downtown L.A. was closed as staff and volunteers served 3,500 pounds of turkey and 500 pounds of stuffing, topped by 50 gallons of gravy, along with 3,500 pounds of oven-baked glazed ham, 1,000 pounds of garlic mashed potatoes, 750 pounds of seasonal vegetables, 250 pounds of cranberry sauce, 300 pounds of dinner rolls and 300 pounds of holiday dessert, according to Georgia Berkovich, the mission’s chief communications officer.

Volunteers were scheduled to include Mr. T and fellow actor Nia Long, along with Tom Morello, guitarist with Rage Against the Machine, Prophets of Rage and Audioslave.

Union Station Homeless Services served on-site and to-go Thanksgiving meals to the Pasadena community a day early, on Wednesday.

The organization got some help serving meals from actors including Adina Porter, who volunteered alongside Rep. Laura Friedman, D-Burbank; Pasadena Councilmember Jessica Rivas and Pasadena Housing Director Jim Wong.

Porter attended on behalf of Feeding America, a hunger relief organization. Porter lost her home in the Eaton fire earlier this year.

“I wish we didn’t live in a world where there was so much food insecurity, but beyond grateful that there’s an organization like Feeding America that is fulfilling a need,” Porter said.

Former Van Halen singer David Lee Roth provided Union Station Homeless Services with sizable donations to help with the distribution. The Green Foundation, $25,000, and Bigo Live, $15,000, also stepped up to support the event.

For more than 50 years, Dinner in the Park has not turned anyone away who shows up to partake of a warm, and free, Thanksgiving meal with a healthy helping of community. The very people who need this annual holiday help are facing rising grocery prices and cuts to federal government food benefits, and many more are likely to join their ranks this year.

On Wednesday, community members were able to sit-down or carry-out a hot Thanksgiving meal at the organization’s Adult Center.

The meals were prepared by USHS Food Program staff and volunteers and included a traditional Thanksgiving spread. No information was required to receive a meal, and guests were welcome to take meals home to share with friends, family, or household members.

“I am thankful for all the volunteers and staff that have helped make this year’s meal service a success, as well as the all the families that come out to celebrate with us,” Friedman said.

Thanksgiving goodwill was also happening up in Altadena, where Fair Oaks Burger was the site of a food giveaway, and where L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger led her annual Day of Giving the day before Thanksgiving at community service events across the Fifth District.

Activities included volunteering at an Altadena construction site helping an Eaton Fire survivor rebuild, serving meals to seniors, and supporting food distribution events. It was the eighth consecutive year Supervisor Barger has hosted the Day of Giving.

In Torrance, Coast Christian Fellowship Church celebrated its 27th year of serving the community during its annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner. Last year, the church prepared and served close to 500 meals. This year, officials anticipated serving the same number of meals or even more.

Volunteers helped serve their fellow churchgoers and other community members with a warm and delicious Thanksgiving meal inside the church hall, which was decorated in fall decor.

In addition to serving meals, Coast Christian Fellowship members came together to collect and distribute non-perishable food and clothing items for those in need in the Torrance community.

Laugh Factory Hollywood was expecting more than 2,000 people for its annual free Thanksgiving feast, continuing a tradition begun in 1979, just a week after the club opened, with a small event that served 71 comedians who were away from home and their children.

Tim Allen, Arsenio Hall and Tiffany Haddish were scheduled to be among the comedians serving and performing.

City News Service, as well as staff writers Madeline Armstrong, Christina Merino and Jill Stewart contributed to this report.