Thanksgiving diners thankful for volunteers
As each guest arrived for Thanksgiving dinner at Salvation Army Glendale, they received a handful of lollipops from Chuck Olsefsky.
At 95 years old, Olsefsky suffers from dementia, but his volunteer work with the Salvation Army is something he talked about for days before the Thursday dinner, his son and daughter-in-law said. The volunteer activities are “very memorable” for him, despite his troubled memory, his daughter-in-law Tarisa Olsefsky added.
“Oh yes,” Chuck Olsefsky said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
PHOTOS: Salvation Army Glendale serves Thanksgiving dinner
Despite some recent health troubles, he was enthusiastic the night before about coming to help at the event, where 285 people enjoyed a free Thanksgiving meal featuring traditional holiday fare — turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.
Rick White, director of operations for Salvation Army Glendale, said volunteers served up plates to “an eclectic mix of people” including residents of nearby homeless shelters, neighborhood senior citizens and families who participate in Salvation Army programs.
Roberto Maltez, a native of El Salvador, brought his two young grandchildren. He said he doesn’t cook Thanksgiving dinner because it’s not a tradition for people outside the United States, but he said, “It’s a wonderful thing.”
David and Vanessa Martinez are residents of the Salvation Army’s Chester Village supportive housing program, which is for families with at least one adult who is disabled and which have struggled with homelessness. They brought their daughter and three sons for the meal and plan to spend time with family for the holiday.
“We’re thankful they invite us every year,” Vanessa Martinez said.
“It’s delicious,” added their son, David Martinez Jr.
Anoush Catering and the Glendale Elks Lodge cooked the turkeys. This year’s dinner, like last year’s, was entirely paid for by be.group, one of California’s largest nonprofit providers of senior living.
Alicia Cheadle, a be.group employee, was one of 65 volunteers helping to dish up, serve and bus the tables. She said it’s not only a way to give back, but a way to “provide a sense of family” to those who may have none. As someone without family in the area, she also gets a “feeling of togetherness” out of the experience.
Tarisa Olsefsky, who lives in Northridge, said she got involved volunteering after hearing about a friend who helped out at Salvation Army Glendale about 14 years ago. When she started caring for her father-in-law a few years ago, she began bringing him along, and soon someone suggested they give him a task — handing out candy.
“They asked me to do it, and I’ll do it,” Chuck Olsefsky said.
It gives him a social outlet and gets him out of the house into the community, his daughter-in-law said. It’s not his only community activity. The retired engineer and Cal State Northridge professor still attends weekly meetings of an engineering organization he helped found, but his volunteering has special meaning to him.
“He talks about it for weeks after,” said Tarisa Olsefsky, referring to the earlier volunteer activities. “That’s all he talks about.”
And he’ll be back next year handing out lollipops, she said, “If God’s willing.”
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Chad Garland, chad.garland@latimes.com
Twitter: @chadgarland
