SeeCalifornia.com

When you think “Thanksgiving” do you think — “alone” and “hungry”?  Sharon Kendall asked her parents, Walt & Trish Kendall, in Lemoore, Calif.  in 2001, “Why don’t we provide a free Thanksgiving meal for people in the Lemoore/Hanford area who may not have the resources to have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner?” This was three weeks before Thanksgiving.

They called their friends who were asked to cook and donate whole turkeys, which a newly-formed committee sliced and served. Many people donated food such as green beans, bacon and one lady even cooked and donated 26 pies. That first year around 200 meals were served. Now the volunteer effort has grown and 200 volunteers serve  approx. 2,000 people come or wait at home to have a turkey dinner delivered to them if they can’t get out. Through donations the event has touched the entire community in this Central Valley city of around 25,000.

This event is open to the public — seniors, singles, military personnel and their dependants and those that have no place to go are welcome. Take-outs and free home deliveries are available in the Lemoore and Hanford area for anyone who cannot make it to the dinner’s location. For home delivery simply call 559-633-0666 from 10am until 2pm on Thanksgiving Day. See: thanksgivingcommunitydinner.org

Other holiday events include Lemoore Tree Raising Ceremony, Tree Lighting Ceremony and Parade.