Redwood Gospel Mission feeds hundreds at annual Thanksgiving banquet

Brenda Reynoso fell on hard times about five years ago when an injury left her dependent on a wheelchair.

So the Santa Rosa woman was more than willing to eat a free turkey dinner with all the fixings Wednesday at the Redwood Gospel Mission’s Great Thanksgiving Banquet.

“They gave me a lunch I probably wouldn’t have had,” Reynoso said after polishing off the meal alongside friends.

She was among hundreds to turn out for the 21st annual event to help the county’s poor and homeless, held each year at the Sonoma County fairgrounds.

In addition to hot food, an army of 600 volunteers handed out grocery bags to 1,200 families, provided flu shots, medical checks, warm coats, haircuts and even foot massages.

“That feels wonderful,” said Dale Smevold, who has been homeless since earlier this year, as volunteer Lori Young rubbed his tired feet. “It feels really good.”

Organizers said it appeared more people were taking advantage of the free food and services than in years past.

Jeff Gilman, executive director of Redwood Gospel Mission, said volunteers cooked 300 turkeys. He expected a large swath of the county’s roughly 4,000 homeless people to attend, as well as hundreds of working poor who need help making ends meet.

People he encounters seem to be either climbing out of poverty or remaining poor, held down by disability, immigration status or other setbacks.

“We seek to provide hope for both groups.” Gilman said.

Seated at a round table with her adult daughter, Deirdre Rhodes counted herself among those in need.

The retired Santa Rosa resident said she lost her health insurance earlier this year and ran out of money to pay bills. She took advantage of a free medical screening offered at the event.

Then she sat down to a plate of hot turkey, gravy, stuffing, green beans and cranberry sauce.

“I actually shouldn’t be eating this,” she joked, noting doctors found she had high blood pressure. “After today and tomorrow, I’ll be on a strict diet.”

Outside, people waited in a fast-moving line to be seated. Volunteer Daphne Dunn of Santa Rosa was lending a hand along with her son, Seth, 10.

She said she talked to a lot of people about why they came to the event. The bottom line: Living in Sonoma County is not cheap.

“It’s a very expensive place to live,” she said.

That’s no secret to a homeless Santa Rosa man who had just finished his turkey dinner.

The man, who identified himself only as “Irish,” said he and his wife and dogs have been living in a tent near a creek for the past three years.

It’s a tough life, especially when it rains. His prison record has made it difficult to find work, he said.

“This really is the only thing I have to look forward to,” he said.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne?@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter ?@ppayne.