36° L/FOG, Thousands receiving Thanksgiving help throughout North Bay
Last Modified: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at 2:01 p.m.
Thousands of local residents were receiving a meal, groceries and in some cases, a haircut or flu shot as two dozen churches came together to assist those in need this Thanksgiving week.
Noon-4 p.m. Free, all welcome. Dinners are available throughout the year on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. Calvary Chapel. 14330 Memory Lane. 994-5683.
Fort Bragg
2 p.m. Free. Intended for those who otherwise would have no meal or family to have a meal with. First Presbyterian Church, 367 Sanderson Way.
Guerneville
1-5 p.m. God’s Grace. All welcome. Veterans Memorial Building, First and Church streets. Volunteers and donations welcome. 869-0574.
Healdsburg
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free raw, vegan, organic meal. Volunteers welcome. Café Gratitude, 206 Healdsburg Ave. 723-4461.
Rohnert Park
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Shiloh Christian Fellowship. All welcome. Free. Meals available for shut-ins. Volunteers needed Wednesday evening (bring your own knife) and Thursday. Senior Center, 6800 Hunter Drive, Suite A. 795-8612.
Santa Rosa
2 p.m. “A Compassionate Thanksgiving.” Potluck sponsored by Vegan Voices. Salad and hot apple cider provided. Bring vegan dish (no animal products, dairy, eggs or honey) and your own plate, cup and utensils. 2 p.m. Free. Monroe Hall, 1400 W. College Ave. 540-1760.
Sebastopol
1-5 p.m. Community Church of Sebastopol. All welcome. Free. Rides available and meal delivery to shut-ins. 1000 Gravenstein Highway N. 823-2484. www.uccseb.org.
3-6 p.m. All welcome. Free, donations of labor, food or money appreciated. Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St. 938-4626, Ext. 1.
Ukiah
5:30 p.m. Seating at 11:30 a.m. for seniors and families with children; general public welcome at noon. Free. Dinner is served Mondays-Fridays throughout the year. Seniors and families with children are seated at 5:30 p.m., all others at 6 p.m. Donations appreciated. Plowshares, 1346 S. State Street, Ukiah.462-8582.
11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Willits Community Services. Free, all welcome. Donations will be accepted to help support winter food assistance and other programs through WCS. William F. Harrah Senior Center, 1501 Baechtel Road. 459-3333.
— Compiled by Susan Church
The Redwood Gospel Mission sponsors the event at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, which began today at 11 a.m. and continues until 6:30 p.m.
“Yes, we made our goal for Thanksgiving, said Cathleen Jones, volunteer coordinator with Redwood Gospel Mission.
She said 1,300 families representing about 5,100 people will be served today, she said. More than 1,320 turkeys were donated, which will be distributed to people throughout the day so they can enjoy a Thanksgiving meal Thursday.
Those attending hear a 30-minute sermon focused on Jesus Christ. They also receive haircuts, flu shots, the groceries and can sit down for a hot Thanksgiving meal.
The impact of the annual event is measured in the happy faces at the fairgrounds. Jones said some families are able to stretch the groceries to last two weeks. For others, the turkey and trimmings provide the basis for entire families coming together; without it they’d be unable to accommodate the whole family, Jones said.
The event is at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. Call 578-1830 for information.
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