Salad bar to help feed an army

Darleene Barrientos

The main dish is salad at the religious social event of the year.

Not just any salad -- this year’s salad bar luncheon, hosted by

the Church Women United of Glendale will feature vegetable salad,

pasta salad, potato salad, chicken curry salad, even Jell-O salad

with fruit.

The women of 23 churches from Glendale, Burbank, La Crescenta and

La Canada Flintridge are preparing the huge buffet of salads, deviled

eggs and dessert breads for the 27th annual event, which will be at

the Salvation Army’s gym, 320 W. Windsor Road. Tickets to the

luncheon are $6, to benefit the Salvation Army’s Meals on Wheels

program.

“Last year, we had a lot left over so we gave it to the Salvation

Army,” event chairwoman Karil Drake said. “This year, it’s at the

Salvation Army, so that will be handy.”

Last year, 250 people were served and the event raised about

$2,100. Organizers are aiming higher this year, recalling luncheons

during the 1960s that served 500 people.

“We could always hope for $2,500,” Drake said, laughing.

The event is usually the only time of the year that the women of

the various churches see each other. Several of the women involved

have been helping with the luncheon for the past 25 years, like Ruth

Parks, who worships at Grandview Presbyterian Church. This is the

first year Parks has stepped back from helping organize the event,

but not because of a lack of desire to be involved.

“I’ve really run out of steam. I’m putting up posters,” Parks

said. “I’ve done it for so long, this is the first the year that I’ve

[not been very involved].”