Several thousand homebound residents and others in need throughout Riverside and surrounding communities are expected to receive hot Thanksgiving meals a week from Thursday when a local church holds its annual “Thanksgiving Day Outreach.”
“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 this week.
This Thanksgiving will mark the 38th year that the church has made meal deliveries available as part of its outreach program.
In previous years, more than 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 then fan out into Riverside and neighboring locations.
On-site meal service is also planned at the church, where upwards of 500 people typically gather to enjoy traditional dinners, which are customarily ready by noon.
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.
Volunteers are always needed to assist with deliveries. Anyone interested in helping out was asked to contact the church office at 951-689-5806. Additional information is also available at www.centralcommunity.com.