FOOD FOR THE SOUL : Volunteers Celebrate the Holiday by Serving Turkey Dinners to Those in Need

As Vickie Hernandez handed a little boy a bag of muffins, her eyes welled with tears.

“He looked just like my son,” she said. “It just got to me.”

Hernandez, like many volunteers throughout the Valley, spent her Thanksgiving Day serving others. She went to the San Fernando Elks Lodge expecting to dish out turkey and potatoes, clean trays and clear tables. What she didn’t expect was to be touched by the experience herself.

“You don’t realize there are kids out there struggling by themselves,” she said. “I’m thankful for having a job and that I’m able to feed my kids.”

About 125 volunteers from the Elks Lodge, Living Hope Community Church, Meeting Each Need with Dignity and others donated food and their time to put on a Thanksgiving feast. The City Council arranged for two buses to shuttle hungry people to and from the lodge, where 10 turkeys donated by the San Fernando Police Department were waiting to be eaten.

“Instead of sitting around watching football and eating dinner for 20 minutes . . . I’d rather help people,” said Rick Drew, a volunteer and member of the Elks Lodge. “It gives me a real warm feeling to help somebody, seeing these families and kids.”

More than 660 people, half of whom appeared to be less than 12 years old, filed through a buffet line, while volunteers heaped mountains of food onto their plates. “Would you like some cranberry sauce?” asked Gasper Nisito, a volunteer and member of the Elks Lodge. “What’s turkey without cranberry?” he asked a man who was shunning the sauce.

In the first 25 minutes, 225 people went through the buffet line. When everyone was served, the crowd, with heads bowed and hands clasped in a prayer position, gave thanks for the meal, families and friends.

“The kids were hungry this morning,” said Lisa Rivera, mother of nine. “It’s hard to feed them all, especially on holidays. This really makes a difference.”

When her children had finished their meals, they showed their appreciation by serving drinks to those who were still eating. Holding a pitcher of water, 9-year-old Rey said he was especially thankful Thursday.

“I got hit by a car yesterday,” he said, displaying scrapes on his elbows.

“We got down on our knees and gave thanks for him, that he’s all right,” his mother said.

Once the plates were clean and the pies were eaten, everyone filtered outside to stand in line for take-home boxes of canned goods, potatoes, tortillas, chicken and even clothes. Some people balanced the boxes atop baby strollers and others hoisted them onto their shoulders. One way or another, everyone walked away with their arms full.

“I’m glad I came here,” said Michael Reyna as he carried a bag of groceries filled with tortillas, yogurt, pretzels and more. “I’m homeless . . . now I have some food to hold me over for a couple of days.”

Reyna said he had done volunteer work at a church Wednesday, so Thursday brought his turn to be on the receiving side of the line.

“It was excellent, a full course,” he said, patting his stomach.

Alice Medellin, an organizer of Project Hope, said the collaborative effort between the community organizations and churches helped to make this Thanksgiving celebration one of the best.

“We all have the same goal, to help those who need help . . . but also to give hope to those who are without hope,” she said. “Sometimes you just have to forget about yourself and think about other people.”

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* GIVING THANKS: Volunteers throughout the city help the needy. B8