|
Thanksgiving rang in a little early for some Los Gatans, as residents gave thanks the weekend before with a handful of food-related events.
The Los Gatos Senior Center held its annual Thanksgiving dinner for seniors Nov. 23, with approximately 170 people in attendance. According to senior coordinator Linda Gallo, the diners were not limited to Los Gatos residents, though the event was only advertised locally.
|
Photograph by Sean Penello
David Mortaz escorts his daughter Sophie, 3, across Longridge Road to drop off a turkey and some canned goods on Nov. 23.
|
Helping out with the meal were volunteers from the Leo Clubs at Los Gatos and Leigh high schools, the Lions Club and Bellarmine Prep. Town officials also attended the event and gave a brief presentation.
Chris Benson, of CB Hannegan's, coordinates the dinner annually. Benson said he was asked to contribute a decade ago "and I said, 'Well, let's get everybody involved because it's a feel-good day anyway.' "
Benson gathered food supplies and help from locals such as the Los Gatos Brewing Company, Lions Club, Le Boulanger, Steve Zanardi and Hannegans' produce supplier. Starting at 5 a.m., Benson and other Hannegan's workers roasted turkey and assembled all the dishes before handing the donated food over to Senior Center staff.
"Basically, I orchestrate it and tap all my friends and my suppliers," Benson said. "It's nice, everybody wants to do it—it makes everybody feel good all around."
|
Photograph by Sean Penello
After dropping off their donations, Live Oak Manor ladies socialize as they wait to take the food over to Second Harvest Food Bank.
|
Seniors happily chowed down on the turkey, salad, stuffing, rolls, mashed potato—which one lady called "delicious"—and pumpkin pie while socializing with one another.
A Los Gatos neighborhood also did its part in Thanksgiving community service. The Live Oak Manor area held its second food and turkey drive on Nov. 23.
Neighbors collected 30 turkeys, 500 pounds of food and $200 in cash donations to give to Second Harvest Food Bank.
Residents turned the drive into a neighborhood party, serving refreshments to the neighbors, neighbors' friends and relatives who arrived. "They want to help, but a lot of the time they don't have the time. If we make it convenient for them, they'll do it," Longridge Road resident Gini Doss said of the contributors.
|
Photograph by Sean Penello
Los Gatos Senior Center volunteer Sheree Williams adds forks to some donated pumpkin pies while Angie Gay cuts them into pieces for seniors Nov. 23
|
The neighborhood also plans a Toys for Tots drive on Dec. 7, which organizers expect will be even bigger than the food drive. Doss said more than 300 toys were received in the past. Toys will be accepted between 6 and 8 p.m., and, once again, the residents will have some fun, with a bonfire going and Santa dropping by for a visit.
Other pre-Thanksgiving meals scheduled include the annual St. Luke's Thanksgiving luncheon for the homeless Nov. 26.
|
Photograph by Sean Penello