The 23rd annual Whiteaker Free Thanksgiving Dinner @@http://wcdinner.org/@@requires a ton of food preparation — literally.
More than 100 volunteers helped cook 1,700 pounds of turkey, 1,000 pounds of potatoes, and 1,000 pounds of vegetables at Lane Community College on Sunday morning.
Classical violin melodies and steam from the ovens wove through the air while dozens of volunteers rhythmically chopped and peeled vegetables for Thursday’s feast. Chefs in white hats and white coats wheeled carts with 110 loaves of bread and 40 pounds of carrots around the cafeteria kitchen for preparation.
Some University students became teary-eyed while chopping 50 pounds of onions.
“It’s an emotional year,” one student said, laughing as the potent onions created a choir of sniffing students around the chopping table.
For more than two decades, Whiteaker Community Dinners have provided a free meal and clothing for the homeless and needy. The event is organized by volunteers and relies on donations from community members and businesses such as Emerald Fruit & Produce, Co.,@@http://emeraldfruitandproduce.com/@@ Head Start of Lane County@@http://www.hsolc.org/@@, Levi Strauss & Co.,@@http://www.levistrauss.com/@@ and Capella Market.@@http://capellamarket.com/@@
“The list just goes on and on and on of people who have helped,” event coordinator Beverly Farfan@@http://www.reuseradio.org/show/guests/beverly-farfan-neighbors-helping-neighbors/@@ said. “Even people who don’t have much have given just a dollar. It is about neighbors helping neighbors.”
Farfan, who has organized the event for 16 years@@this says 15 years, but this will be his 16th http://www.reuseradio.org/show/guests/beverly-farfan-neighbors-helping-neighbors/@@, expects 2,500 people to attend Thursday. The dinner starts at 11 a.m. at the Whiteaker Community Head Start Center and goes until 3 p.m.@@http://wcdinner.org/@@
But the event is more than just a free dinner. Beginning at 8 a.m., there will be a clothing giveaway, live music, kids’ activities, and rooms where flu shots will be available. Volunteer massage therapists will even give free massages.
Already Farfan said some people have begun sleeping outside the Community Head Start Center to ensure their chance of getting warm clothing and a warm meal. Last year 1,500 people picked up gloves, hats and raincoats from the clothing giveaway. Farfan expects more people to come this year than last year.
Though all of the 600 volunteer slots have been filled, Farfan still encourages anyone interested to help.
“Sometimes people think that the community doesn’t care about each other,” Farfan said. “But this is a great example to show that people do care. A lot of people want to be involved.”
Students from the University participated in Sunday’s preparations, including members of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity. University professor Lola Broomberg@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=staff&d=person&b=name&s=Lola+Broomberg@@ has taken students from her career development class for the last three years to help prepare food.
“It is a chance to get involved in the community,” Broomberg said. “It allows students to get out of the academic setting and get a hands-on experience.”
The event was a first for University junior Kailey Gramberg,@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Kailey+Gramberg@@ who chopped onions and celery for two hours on Sunday.
“A lot of UO students stick within the bubble of the University,” Gramberg said. “But it’s important to acknowledge the homeless and impoverished population in Eugene. It’s part of a well-rounded education.”
University sophomore Toby Morus@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Toby+Morus@@ said volunteering for community events such as the Whiteaker dinner has made him more optimistic.
“If you care about more than yourself, you’re happier,” Morus said. “It seems weird, but it’s true.”
Whiteaker Community Dinner prepares Thanksgiving feast for more than 2,000 people
Daily Emerald
November 21, 2011
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