Full plate of community dinners planned
The Top Hatters motorcycle club started the Thanksgiving season
with turkey and all the trimmings served at the Hollister Community
Center for local seniors Nov. 18. The annual lunch is a tradition
of the club, and though the plates have been cleared at 300 West
St., there are several more dinners on the horizon that are free
and open to the public.
Full plate of community dinners planned
The Top Hatters motorcycle club started the Thanksgiving season with turkey and all the trimmings served at the Hollister Community Center for local seniors Nov. 18. The annual lunch is a tradition of the club, and though the plates have been cleared at 300 West St., there are several more dinners on the horizon that are free and open to the public.
“Leaders in the church this year, more than ever, noticed the economy taking a big hit,” said Charlie Rodriguez, a Latino/outreach pastor of Sunnyslope Christian Center.
Rodriguez and his parishioners will host a Thanksgiving meal from noon to 3 p.m. at Sunnyslope Christina Center, 1520 Sunnyslope Road.
“This is our first one and we decided it is going to be annual,” Rodriguez said. “Again, we understand how the economic times have been hard on people and just want to be there for the church and our community.”
The group expects at least 300 people to show and they will have activities for children, including a bounce house.
A few days later, on Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, there are two free dinners to choose from and sponsors are still looking for plenty of volunteers.
Staff and parishioners from Mission San Juan are hosting their annual Parish Thanksgiving at Casa Maria, 600 First St., from noon to 3 p.m.
“This year with families in our community finding it hard to make ends meet, we are once again asking our parishioners to help in anyway they can…” staff wrote in a church bulletin.
They are still accepting sign-ups for volunteers who would like to cook, set up or serve at the meal. Sign-up sheets are available after mass at Mission San Juan on Nov. 22 or 23.
The Marley Holte Holiday Dinner committee members will also host a Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 27. Their meal will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers are needed Wednesday, Nov. 26 after 5 p.m. to help with set up at Sacred Heart Church in the O’Reilly Youth Center, 670 College St., where the meal will be served. The dinner features turkeys cooked by Mansmith’s staff in a smoker. Volunteer jobs start at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving.
“We do need a crew for clean up from noon on, to help clean up pots and pans, and put everything away,” said Larry Brown, a member of the board of directors. “We need more volunteers.”
The dinner has become a tradition of sorts with many of the same volunteers showing up each year. Brown, who said he can’t remember how long he has volunteered, said it has been at least 15 years.
“Seeing people eat and the fun of all of us getting together and doing this,” is why he continues to volunteer each year. “At dinners in the past, I’ve seen medical doctors sitting down with field hands and having a good, old time.”
Thanksgiving dinners
– Sunnyslope Christian Center Thanksgiving Dinner – Saturday, Nov. 22 from noon to 3 p.m. at 1520 Sunnyslope Road. For more information, call Florence at 637-2635.
– Marley Holte Holiday Dinner – Thursday, Nov. 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 670 College St., in the O’Reilly Youth Center. For more information or to sign up to volunteer for the Holte Dinner, call Larry Brown at 637-9037.
– Mission San Juan Bautista Dinner – Thursday, Nov. 27 from noon to 3 p.m. at Casa Maria, 600 First St. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, call 623-2127.
