Thanksgiving Day brings out volunteers

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Thanksgiving is traditionally a time of sharing, and many folks are spending part of the day giving to others.

Serving 1,000 Thanksgiving dinners is a big job at the Poverello house. Tons of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and all the rest are cooked and served by Chef Tito and the Poverello House crew, and volunteers like Lauren Powers who came from her home in Clovis to help.

"You need to understand there's nothing to be afraid of because people are down on their luck or need to come to get a meal," she said.

For Ralph Anderson of Oakhurst it's all about helping.

"It's not just about feeling good, it's about serving the poor and the people that are in need, so it's more service than my personal feeling good," he said.

Chef Tito oversees the preparation of hundreds of meals every single day of the week, but having the volunteers on this day here adds to the spirit.

"I think it's more enjoyable. I think it's something with the holiday and the giving and the thank you and all this that it makes it very special to us," he said.

Just a block away from the Poverello House, dozens of families and church groups bring food to those living on the streets.

Gurprite Oppal says her group from the Sikh Community Church in Selma comes every year.

"We just want to come and help out the people because I see we are thankful for what we have and we see the people that are not as fortunate, so we want to come and make their day a little better, make their Thanksgiving a little better," she said.

But there's no turkey or ham here. Sikhs are vegetarian. The menu is spicy beans and rice and pizza.

In Downtown Fresno's Lowell Neighborhood, volunteers from local churches had a Thanksgiving block party. Each family sponsors a table or two, then provides and prepares all the food, and everyone is invited.

Rici Skei is from the On Ramp Covenant Church, which started this event three years ago.

"It brings people together. Some people are so lonely and depressed on a day like today, and so we just thought to ourselves why do we have to have Thanksgiving indoors, why don't we bring it outdoors and invite lots of other neighbors and community members and we will just enjoy turkey together," she said.

All of the volunteers show serving food on Thanksgiving is a way to bring people together.

As Lauren Powers put it, "There is such a grace that you get from helping people; it opens your heart."

Use #ABC30Thanksgiving to share your photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.