Volunteers roast 20 turkeys for needy

Volunteers like Leslie Flemate were up late Tuesday night.

They were cooking traditional Thanksgiving side dishes for the 300 needy people they served Wednesday at El Granito Foundation’s headquarters on Date Avenue.

They even dug a deep pit into the ground in which they cooked 20 turkeys.

But when it comes to the long hours of cooking, Flemate is not a novice. For the past 17 years, she has helped Janice Rice, the foundation’s founder, prepare the annual Thanksgiving feast.

“It’s a blessing to help,” Flemate said. “This is for everybody in the community. Everybody has a story. Some good, some bad.”

The foundation serves anyone without question, resulting in a myriad of appreciative attendees.

The homeless, families and the money-pinched dined on heaping portions of turkey and generous servings of conventional Thanksgiving offerings, such as apple, lemon and pumpkin pies, mashed potatoes, stuffing and green beans.

Flemate’s son, Roy Flemate — who, like his siblings is coerced into volunteering — said that after he does his part to help, he looks forward to eating the food — and there was plenty of it.

“It’s about the same response as we always get,” volunteer John Calaman said. “We are seeing people we don’t normally see,” a sight he credits to peoples’ “lack of income.”

Bags of food were doled out to Plainview residents after the Porterville event finished at 1:30 p.m.
El Granito Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 1973 geared toward serving the homeless and the hungry, will launch its 36th annual Christmas festivities from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 17 with a food distribution at 383 W. Date Ave.

To make the food distribution possible, the foundation seeks donations of canned foods, toys, non-perishable items, blankets, jackets and sweaters.

They can be dropped off at Porterville City Hall, 291 N. Main St., Wells Fargo Bank, 815 Henderson Ave., Doraleens Nails, 350 W. Montgomery Ave., Merle Stone Chevrolet, 800 W. Henderson Ave. and Villa Robles Apartments, 450 W. Springville Ave.
 
-- Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1050, or jchandler@portervillerecorder.com.