Listen to this article
Thanksgiving in the Western Territory
Along with The Salvation Army’s traditional Thanksgiving programs, some unique things are happening in the West.
Alaska
Thanksgiving in Alaska is about community. This year Fairbanks is partnering with the International Ministerial Alliance to help provide turkeys, as well as prepare and serve food on Thanksgiving Day.
Cascade
The Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter (SAFES) in Portland, Ore., will be serving a full meal to the women in the shelter. The Rose Center for Seniors will offer discounted meals on back-to-back days. The Harbor Light Center and the West Women’s and Children’s Shelter will host dinners for clients, youth center children and their families, plus corps families.
Del Oro
Del Oro Divisional Headquarters in Sacramento received 700 pounds of frozen turkeys from California State Automobile Association of Northern California (AAA) as part of their annual Thanksgiving project.
Expecting to serve 1,700 this year, the Auburn Corps has booked a fairground to accommodate its dinner guests.
With the help of local Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, Concord Corps will provide over 400 food boxes at a “Parking Lot Drive Thru.”
The Santa Rosa Corps is experimenting with a new partnership with another local church—the Redwood Gospel Mission—to serve over 3,000 dinners at a local fairground. Over 1,000 food boxes will also go to pre-registered families.
With the help of a local bakery owner, the corps’ youth department and high school and local service clubs, the Stockton Corps is preparing for about 600.
Golden State
The Modesto Corps will serve its dinners with a restaurant-style experience: linen tablecloths, garnished tables, plated dinners, music, entertainment, games for the kids and full table service. They plan to serve nearly 1,000 at the Modesto Convention Center.
A 50-year tradition in San Francisco will continue with a turkey carve-off between the San Francisco Fire and Police departments. The Redwood City Corps will host its own “Fire Department vs. Police Department Turkey Carve-Off.”
The Asian American Yerba Buena Corps—recently renamed the San Francisco South of Market Corps—will provide individual “portrait sittings” at the San Francisco Adult Rehabilitation Center. Each client will receive a portrait of him/herself on the spot with no fee involved.
Hawaii
The Salvation Army Island Brass Band will perform with local entertainers at the Army’s turkey feast at the Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall in Honolulu.
Sierra del Mar
San Diego will honor Judge David Gill—a member of the Metropolitan Advisory Board—who has volunteered to serve at Golden Hall since Joan Kroc originally started the program.