Churches, Missions Will Set Their Tables With Turkey Meals for Homeless, Poor

From Long Beach to Whittier, many churches, missions and volunteer organizations in the Southeast area will open their doors to the needy and homeless this Thanksgiving week. Turkey and all the trimmings will grace their tables, as family-style meals are served to those who have fallen on hard times or simply do not have a place to spend the holidays. Municipalities also will mark the holiday with special Thanksgiving activities. And the Navy will spread some holiday cheer to servicemen’s families. Here is a list of some of the Thanksgiving activities.

LONG BEACH

* A food drive for the needy and gifts for a missionary family will be the highlights of a family Thanksgiving dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Fellowship Hall at Long Beach First Church of the Nazarene, 2280 Clark Ave.

Participants are asked to bring canned goods and non-perishable food items for donation to the Long Beach Rescue Mission, according to Dee Swingle, dinner chairman. The mission will send two representatives to accept the donations.

Other guests will be the Rev. Randy Beckum, his wife Lorie, and their three children, all of whom are in this country on furlough after four years of missionary service in France. Beckum will be interviewed on the progress of missionary activities in France and his family will be showered with early Christmas gifts.

The dinner is being sponsored by the Nazarene World Missionary Society and costs $4.50 for adults, $2 for children or a maximum of $15 per family. The meal of ham, scalloped potatoes, vegetable, salad and pie will be served by members of the church youth group.

* A Thanksgiving feast, with enough food to serve 800 people, will be served Thursday at the Christian Outreach Appeal, 515 E. 3rd St., Long Beach. Dinner service will begin at 11 a.m. and is scheduled to continue until 5 p.m. The menu will feature roast turkey, sweet corn, candied yams, mashed potatoes, and of course, pumpkin pie. For more information, call (213) 432-1440.

* An estimated 350 homebound elderly persons will have Thanksgiving dinners delivered to them between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Thursday, courtesy of the Interfaith Action for Aging, Suite E, 2355 Pacific Ave., Long Beach. Volunteers and donations are still needed. Call (213) 595-0939.

* A hundred needy servicemen’s families will get a helping hand from the Long Beach Naval Station, which will provide Thanksgiving food baskets.

The United Services Organization (USO) of the Greater Los Angeles Area, 230 Pine Ave., Long Beach, will serve a Thanksgiving dinner for servicemen and their families between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday. Call (213) 437-2008.

* About 900 homeless people are expected to break bread at two Thanksgiving dinners to be served at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Long Beach Rescue Mission, 1335 Pacific Ave. The mission will carve turkeys and whip up all the little extras, including cranberry sauce, vegetables and pumpkin pies. All are welcome and should call (213) 591-1292.

* The Long Beach Church of Christ, 3707 Atlantic Ave., will offer a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for hundreds of homeless, poor, senior citizens and people who would otherwise be spending the holidays alone. The dinner will be served from noon to 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Call (213) 427-8974.

PICO-RIVERA

* Local parks will once again feature Thanksgiving dinners, courtesy of the Recreation and Community Services Department. The dinners will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Rio Hondo, Pico, Smith and Rivera parks. Participants should bring a potluck item like mashed potatoes or salad, said Ralph Aranda, department manager. After dinner, there will be award ceremonies to honor those who have completed fall sports programs conducted at the city’s parks. Those planning to attend the dinner should contact their local park for registration information.

SOUTH GATE

* For senior citizens 60 or older, there will be a Thanksgiving dinner served at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Oldtimers Foundation, 9335 Long Beach Blvd., South Gate. Seniors will partake of turkey, sweet potatoes, salad and dressing. Transportation will be provided for those who call (213) 589-7100.

The foundation also will serve traditional Thanksgiving meals at the senior centers in the cities of Lynwood, Bell, Huntington Park and Maywood. The senior center in Lynwood is at 3798 Martin Luther King Blvd.; in Bell at 6250 Pine Ave.; in Huntington Park at 6925 Salt Lake Ave. In Maywood, the foundation will serve Thanksgiving dinner Tuesday at the Community Building, 4747 E. 56th St.

WHITTIER

* The St. Matthias Episcopal Church, 7056 Washington Ave., will provide a traditional Thanksgiving meal to hundreds of homeless people or those who will be alone for the holiday. The lunch will be served from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday. People without transportation may have rides to the church by calling (213) 698-9741. The church also will deliver meals to people who are physically unable to leave their homes.