Photo: Jacqueline García / Impremedia
Without long lines but with a constant flow for two hours, the vehicles arrived at City Terrace Park, east of Los Angeles, to collect turkeys and other foods to have Thanksgiving dinner with.
For the seventh year in a row , the “Gobble, Gobble” event was sponsored by the office of Supervisor Hilda Solís and a group of sponsors who donated 1, 000 turkeys and food for families in need and strongly impacted by the covid.
Carry Bonsell was one of dozens of representatives from organizations and groups chosen to receive the meals. Each vehicle received 11 turkeys and the same number of food boxes.
Bonsell, a member of the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council, said this was a great idea as there are so many people in the community who cannot afford a turkey.
“It is very good that the supervisor is helping, ”said Bonsell.
Behind her came Manuel Guzmán, representative of the International Institute of Los Angeles, an entity that is dedicated to help immigrants and refugees.
Guzmán expressed that it is important to bring these foods, especially for families who have recently arrived in this country and need aid.
Ayleen Ruiz, representative of El Proyecto del Barrio, preschool entity, said that they already have identified 10 families that will receive the turkeys. She added that helping others makes her feel very good.
“Unfortunately we have many parents who do not have work right now,” said Ruiz. “There are many families that do not have transportation and that is why I am here helping.”
Supervisor Solís indicated that the donation is for truly needy families. She appreciated that little by little it is returning to normal since last year not as many turkeys were delivered as on this occasion due to the covid pandemic – 19.
“We work with community groups because they are the ones who give the names of the people with the highest needs,” said Solís.
Reasons to give thanks
The supervisor added that after seeing the loss of families due to covid infections, she is grateful to see the people who have suffered, but who came out ahead and that. It motivates her to continue helping.
“They deserve this support so that they see that they are not alone,” said Solís. “I thank the community because they are the ones who are fighting every day.”
The event helped 80 shortlisted non-profit organizations in East Los Angeles, an area that represents Solís.
Sponsors include Alma Family Services, Coca-Cola, California Water Service, AltaMed and LA Regional Food.
One of the volunteers who is part of the Eastmont Community Center and has participated since the first year in the delivery of turkeys was Teresa Palacios, who expressed that it is nice to see how year after year the event is growing significantly.
For her, Thanksgiving is the time for people who have a little more to take charge of giving something to others, so she and her husband donated their time.
“I feel very grateful for life. I lost a brother during the pandemic, but I’m glad that we’re getting out little by little, ”Palacios said. “Personally -participating- makes me feel very good because I give a grain of sand so that other people feel good.”
Volunteer said that she hopes that this year the families can reunite and return to normality.
“We are finally going to be able to meet, We are already vaccinated and we are eager to see the family ”, he explained.
Solís added that in East Los Angeles there are many essential workers but also many who lost their jobs and / or were infected.
“It has been more than a year since the families were reunited because of the covid and now that we are doing it we are very happy for the great support we have received ”Said Solís.
Other areas that have received turkeys courtesy of Supervisor Solís’s office are Commerce and Covina.