GILROY
– Donation centers around Gilroy are pleased with the generous
community response they have seen for Thanksgiving meals so far,
but that doesn’t mean they are satisfied.
By Lori Stuenkel
GILROY – Donation centers around Gilroy are pleased with the generous community response they have seen for Thanksgiving meals so far, but that doesn’t mean they are satisfied.
There are still plenty of opportunities to help less fortunate families celebrate with a traditional Thanksgiving feast, whether by dropping off more non-perishable foods or volunteering to pack food boxes or serve the hungry.
“It’s been wonderful, the community has definitely come to the aid of these families,” said Jacqui Merriman, food distribution coordinator at Saint Joseph’s Family Center. The nonprofit received a deluge of donations Friday.
“We’ve had people coming since 7 a.m. this morning with turkeys and with cranberries and … I lost count, but I’m close enough that everyone can get everything they need,” she said.
Saint Joseph’s will distribute Thanksgiving food boxes to 250 registered families Monday and another 250 families Tuesday, she said.
“I definitely have enough to give (them) everything in the traditional box, plus a bird,” she said. A traditional box includes a full-size turkey, bread, fresh fruits and vegetables, stuffing, canned vegetables and cranberries.
Merriman said she reached her target of 500 turkeys Friday partly thanks to associates from Century 21 Premier real estate.
“I was astounded when they came, that was the most wonderful thing,” Merriman said.
Volunteers from the agency contributed to Saint Joseph’s efforts by organizing a community food drive with the help of Nob Hill Foods. The associates distributed empty grocery bags to Gilroy neighborhoods and between Nov. 15 and 17 collected hundreds of those bags full of celebration goodies.
They also generated an office pool to purchase 85 turkeys, dropping them off on Monday. They brought by another 114 of the birds on Thursday.
“That helped me get to my goal very quickly,” Merriman said. “It should put me ahead to where everybody should get a basket of food.”
Local boy scouts also joined the effort, collecting canned goods door-to-door and bringing the donations to Saint Joseph’s on Thursday and Friday.
“Those boys … deserve a great thank-you, they did an excellent job,” Merriman said. “Two fathers backed up a Suburban absolutely chock-full from the front seat to the back door.”
The dads made two separate trips, she said.
Saint Joseph’s will pack and distribute food boxes Monday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Merriman said she still needs volunteers to work shifts on Tuesday.
The center may have enough supplies to distribute some boxes on Wednesday, as well. People may contact Merriman if they are interested in volunteering from 9 a.m. until about 1 or 2 p.m. Wednesday, or until supplies run out.
Additional donations received anytime before Thanksgiving will either be distributed as needed this week or stored until they can be used.
“There was a substantial amount (of food donated), but we’ve been serving 50 to 100 families a day, so it’ll go quicker than I like,” Merriman said. “Anything that comes in from now will be greatly appreciated for Christmas, because in three weeks, I need to have 600 more turkeys.”
The Lord’s Table, which is run by Saint Joseph’s and serves hot, prepared meals three times each week, is still lacking various stomach-fillers necessary to serve its traditional Thanksgiving meal Thursday. The organization is seeking donations of butter, margarine, celery, cans of mixed vegetables, Italian salad dressing, whipped cream and brown sugar.
Merriman said the Lord’s Table has 25 turkeys weighing 20 pounds each, which is enough to feed the 250 people they anticipate serving.
Volunteers who would like to help serve the Thanksgiving feast from 12 to 2 p.m. Thursday may contact the Lord’s Table, but may not be needed.
“We had a pretty darn decent response for that,” said David Cox, director of Saint Joseph’s.
The Lord’s Table provides hot meals year-round, however, so interested volunteers can be directed to other opportunities by contacting the organization. The Lord’s Table serves meals in the St. Mary School Gym, 111 First St.
The Salvation Army, which is giving out its Thanksgiving food boxes today, didn’t quite get the amount of donations, particularly turkeys, it wanted.
“It is not what we expected, we needed more, but so far, we are receiving at least something,” said Major Carlos Gonzzatti. “We have most of what we need except for the turkeys. We are supposed to have about 300 boxes, right now we have about 10 turkeys.”
The Second Harvest Food Bank is expected to bring some turkeys today, but Gonzzatti said additional donations are welcome.
The food boxes – which are loaded with traditional fixings such as stuffing, soup, pumpkin pie, canned vegetables, rice, sugar and salt – will be distributed until 4 p.m. today, but the Salvation Army gives out food all season long, he said.
Any additional volunteers who can stop by today will be put to work, as well.
“If (volunteers) can come in, sure, the more people, the easier it will be,” Gonzzatti said.
Starting Nov. 28, the Salvation Army needs volunteers to ring bells at its kettle donation sites. The organization will distribute food and toy collection barrels to interested businesses around town. Also, food items are needed for the Christmas food boxes, and people can participate in the Adopt-a-Family for Christmas program. For more information on holiday season volunteer opportunities, contact the Salvation Army at 848-5373 or Christine Flautt at 842-6745.
