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PhiLAnthropist: The Stuffed Turkey Edition
Photo by TomorrowGirl via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
SERVE DINNER IN THE PARK
Every year, on Thanksgiving Day, the Union Station Homeless Services sponsors Thanksgiving Dinner-in-the-Park held in Pasadena's Central Park.
How you can help:
-Volunteer at the event (Thanksgiving Day; especially needed between 1pm and 4pm).
-Volunteer the day before the event.
-Donate prepared food; items needed (pdf).
Call 626.240.4550 x542 or email for more details; families and children welcome.
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GOBBLE GOBBLE GIVE AT THE ECHO
Think massive city-wide Burrito Project on Thanksgiving. Ten years ago, Echo Park resident Barry Waters cooked and delivered 28 meals to homeless people in his neighborhood. A few years later, Gobble Gobble Give hit 100 volunteers and delivered over 950 meals in addition to clothing and toiletries.
How you can help:
-Donate food (purchased or home cooked), clothing, toiletries, 'day-of' necessities (foil, cutting knives, sponges, etc.) or via Paypal.
-Meet at the Echo at 10am on Thanksgiving Day to put together meals.
-Start driving! Help deliver meals and clothing to homeless people all over the city "hitting vacant lots, empty fields, river bed bridges, freeway underpasses and alleys."
NOTE: Drop off time line and location for clothing and toiletries is Saturday, November 22nd or Sunday, November 23rd, from 10 am to 7pm (map).
Specific volunteer positions and sign-up here.
WESTSIDE THANKSGIVING
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium hosts a massive Westside Thanksgiving Day extravaganza, offering everything from dinners, clothing and pony rides to immunizations, haircuts and medical consultations.
How you can help:
-Donate an uncooked turkey for someone else to cook
-Volunteer your oven (and yourself) to roast a turkey on Wednesday night.
-Donate and/or cook a pie.
-Donate clean clothing; donations accepted at the SM Civic Center until 9pm on Wednesday, November 26th.
-Volunteer with set up on Wednesday, November 26th (*especially needed).
-Volunteer on Thanksgiving Day (servers, greeters, hair stylists, clothing sorters, clean up crew etc.)
More details available via their Hotline at 310-394-3153 or email.
COVENANT HOUSE EARLY THANKSGIVING BENEFIT
The Covenant House in Hollywood celebrates Thanksgiving early this Tuesday. They offer food, entertainment provided by the Covenant House Youth and a chance to learn about their organization.
Tuesday, November 25th, 6:30-8:30pm. 1325 N. Western Avenue, Hollywood.
Additional resources:
San Gabriel Valley Donor and Volunteer List (pdf); idealist.org.
On a final note, don't be discouraged if an event says it's "full". Everyone likes to cook and serve, but no one really likes to clean up, so you can bet that help will be needed with clean up later in the day, when everyone else likes to be home preparing their own dinners!
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More opportunities or suggestions on how to give back this Thanksgiving? What else would you like to see here? Leave your ideas and feedback in the comments!
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