Riverside Church to Serve Thousands for Thanksgiving
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – A Riverside church that provides meals to thousands of Riverside County residents on Thanksgiving each year is sending out a call out Friday for volunteers to help with distribution.
“This is a meal for the homeless, senior citizens, families in need and those who will be home alone,” Central Community Christian Fellowship said in a statement. “We need volunteers each year to help serve and deliver the dinners to our community.”
This Thanksgiving will mark the 37th year that the church has made meal deliveries available as part of its Thanksgiving Day Outreach.
In previous years, over 4,000 meals have been dished out, largely to Meals-on-Wheels recipients. However, during the 2020 COVID lockdowns, the church expanded service to many people who were out of work during the holiday period.
Delivery service generally begins the morning of Thanksgiving and concludes by early afternoon.
Volunteers retrieve hot plates from the church kitchen on Arlington Avenue and fan out into Riverside and surrounding communities.
On-site meal service is also planned at the church, where upwards of 500 people typically gather to enjoy traditional dinners. The only exception was in 2020, when restrictions on public gatherings prevented volunteers from opening the house of worship.
Turkeys, along with stuffing, mashed potatoes and other trappings are made in the church kitchen, typically with help from a Riverside-based catering service.
“Everyone is invited to join in sharing Thanksgiving dinners together with our families from Central Community,” according to the church.
Anyone interested in lending a hand this year — or may know of someone who needs a meal delivered — was asked to contact the church at 951- 689-5806, or online at office@centralcommunity.com.
Additional information is available at www.centralcommunity.com.
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