Churches deliver Thanksgiving meals

Porterville residents Janeen and C.J. Alvarez regret not bringing their five children to the Grand Avenue Methodist’s Fellowship Hall this morning.

They were there along with approximately 300 other volunteers to assemble 1,513 portable Thanksgiving meals for home-bound people.

In a financial pinch, the Alvarez family was unable to travel to their parents in the Los Angeles area, so they figured spending the morning giving back would be an appropriate alternative.

“We wanted to open our eyes,” Janeen Alvarez said. “Seeing all the meals going out and all the people here, I wish we would have brought our children.”

It is the biggest event for the coalition of more than 20 churches, organized by the Porterville Area Ministerial Association. Volunteers participate in preparing and delivering meals that are brought to the doorsteps of those that have no transportation, are living alone and feel no desire to cook, or have no kitchens at all.

It started 10 years ago with Valley Oak Community Church and the delivery of 175 Thanksgiving dinners.

“We wanted to meet a need in the community, for people to have a meal,”  Pastor Steve Walker said.

On Thursday, more than 70 turkeys were barbecued in a deep pit and thousands of side dishes were handmade.

“It’s cheaper for us to cook and it’s fresh this morning,” Walker said.

The smallest details, such as salt and pepper, were included in the packages.

Kids, teenagers and adults alike awoke with the sun to finish cooking. Hundreds of others, like the Alvarez couple, arrived throughout the morning to pack boxes into the cars that headed out at about 10 a.m.  

They were so impressed by the operation, that they plan to volunteer again next year — with their kids.

“We will be back,” they said.

-- Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1050, or jchandler@portervillerecorder.com.