‘Our favorite day of the year’: Over 600 volunteers help those in need at the Great Thanksgiving Banquet

Sena Wolter was in good spirits Wednesday. As her two young sons bounced in an inflatable house at Sonoma County Fairgrounds’ Grace Pavilion, she and her 4-year-old daughter walked across the large room to get their nails done.

“It feels really nice,” Wolter said as Kelsey Anderson applied purple polish at the nail station.

Anderson, a Rincon Valley Christian School senior, was among 600 volunteers who served 4,500 to 5,000 people in need at Wednesday’s Great Thanksgiving Banquet.

Hosted by the Redwood Gospel Mission for the past two decades, the event provided more than meals. It also offered coats, haircuts, flu shots, children’s entertainment and manicures at the makeshift spa area.

“It’s just so much fun seeing how everyone enjoys themselves,” said Anderson, 18. “I love to serve.”

Wolter’s daughter, Soraya, received her first mini-manicure from 15-year-old Dakota Borgfeldt.

“It’s a treat for people. People love being pampered, and they deserve it,” said Borgfeldt, who has volunteered at the event for three years.

Her mother, Karen Borgfeldt, owner and aesthetician of Hello Beautiful Skin in Santa Rosa, helped coordinate the spa area, which had about 10 receptionists, 12 nail stations, 20 foot washers and 10 volunteers giving facials.

The Borgfeldts said they’re driven by their Christian faith to serve others, and they enjoy interacting with people they otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet.

“It’s a great way to connect and just hear their stories and know that as humans we’re so similar,” Karen Borgfeldt said.

With the first big rain of the season and temperatures in the 60s on Wednesday, the lines for coat distribution remained steady at the Grace Pavilion.

“There’s something about a coat, it’s like giving people a hug, the way it warms you,” said Susan Marquez, a volunteer who helped sort the donations the day before.

After a relaxing facial, Sonia Stanton, 69, received a long, buttoned gray wool coat with a hood.

“I’m totally thrilled about it,” she said as she held her coat up with pride.

Doug Thompson, 62, got a forest green winter vest. He has been homeless since his mother passed away about three years ago.

“I’m very grateful,” Thompson said.

In the last couple weeks, Thompson said the smoky air from the Butte County fire more than 100 miles away gave him a cough.

“It’s an invisible danger,” he said.

He was given an N95 respirator mask while panhandling, he said, but his coughing has improved in the last few days. He learned about the banquet from the Samuel L. Jones Hall homeless shelter in Santa Rosa, where he often stays.

“I don’t have anything but I’m happy,” he said as he headed to Finley Hall for a Thanksgiving meal.

As people checked into the event, they were ushered to a room at the Garrett Building for a 45-minute gospel service before their passes were stamped for services. Bibles were handed out at multiple buildings, as well.

Jeff Gilman, executive director of the Redwood Gospel Mission, said the partnerships with churches and other agencies have allowed them to recruit more volunteers and reach people in need.

Wednesday also was Gilman’s 25-year work anniversary at the nonprofit. The banquet began about a year after he took the director job.

“We love this, it’s our favorite day of the year,” Gilman said.

You can reach Staff Writer Susan Minichiello at 707-521-5216 or susan.minichiello@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @susanmini.

Sena Wolter was in good spirits Wednesday. As her two young sons bounced in an inflatable house at Sonoma County Fairgrounds’ Grace Pavilion, she and her 4-year-old daughter walked across the large room to get their nails done.

“It feels really nice,” Wolter said as Kelsey Anderson applied purple polish at the nail station.

Anderson, a Rincon Valley Christian School senior, was among 600 volunteers who served 4,500 to 5,000 people in need at Wednesday’s Great Thanksgiving Banquet.

Hosted by the Redwood Gospel Mission for the past two decades, the event provided more than meals. It also offered coats, haircuts, flu shots, children’s entertainment and manicures at the makeshift spa area.

“It’s just so much fun seeing how everyone enjoys themselves,” said Anderson, 18. “I love to serve.”

Wolter’s daughter, Soraya, received her first mini-manicure from 15-year-old Dakota Borgfeldt.

“It’s a treat for people. People love being pampered, and they deserve it,” said Borgfeldt, who has volunteered at the event for three years.

Her mother, Karen Borgfeldt, owner and aesthetician of Hello Beautiful Skin in Santa Rosa, helped coordinate the spa area, which had about 10 receptionists, 12 nail stations, 20 foot washers and 10 volunteers giving facials.

The Borgfeldts said they’re driven by their Christian faith to serve others, and they enjoy interacting with people they otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet.

“It’s a great way to connect and just hear their stories and know that as humans we’re so similar,” Karen Borgfeldt said.

With the first big rain of the season and temperatures in the 60s on Wednesday, the lines for coat distribution remained steady at the Grace Pavilion.

“There’s something about a coat, it’s like giving people a hug, the way it warms you,” said Susan Marquez, a volunteer who helped sort the donations the day before.

After a relaxing facial, Sonia Stanton, 69, received a long, buttoned gray wool coat with a hood.

“I’m totally thrilled about it,” she said as she held her coat up with pride.

Doug Thompson, 62, got a forest green winter vest. He has been homeless since his mother passed away about three years ago.

“I’m very grateful,” Thompson said.

In the last couple weeks, Thompson said the smoky air from the Butte County fire more than 100 miles away gave him a cough.

“It’s an invisible danger,” he said.

He was given an N95 respirator mask while panhandling, he said, but his coughing has improved in the last few days. He learned about the banquet from the Samuel L. Jones Hall homeless shelter in Santa Rosa, where he often stays.

“I don’t have anything but I’m happy,” he said as he headed to Finley Hall for a Thanksgiving meal.

As people checked into the event, they were ushered to a room at the Garrett Building for a 45-minute gospel service before their passes were stamped for services. Bibles were handed out at multiple buildings, as well.

Jeff Gilman, executive director of the Redwood Gospel Mission, said the partnerships with churches and other agencies have allowed them to recruit more volunteers and reach people in need.

Wednesday also was Gilman’s 25-year work anniversary at the nonprofit. The banquet began about a year after he took the director job.

“We love this, it’s our favorite day of the year,” Gilman said.

You can reach Staff Writer Susan Minichiello at 707-521-5216 or susan.minichiello@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @susanmini.