Volunteers Needed To Serve, Deliver Thanksgiving Meals In Riverside

RIVERSIDE, CA — A Riverside church that provides meals to thousands of Riverside County residents on Thanksgiving sent out a call Tuesday for volunteers to help with the distribution effort.

"This is a meal for the homeless, senior citizens, families in need and those who will be home alone," according to the Central Community Christian Fellowship. "We need volunteers each year to help serve and deliver the dinners to our community."

This Thanksgiving will mark the 35th year the church has made meal deliveries available as part of its Thanksgiving Day Outreach.

In previous years, more than 4,000 meals have been sent out, largely to Meals-on-Wheels recipients. However, during the coronavirus public health lockdowns of 2020, the church expanded service to many people who were out of work during the holiday period.

Delivery service generally begins the morning of Thanksgiving and concludes by early afternoon.

Volunteers retrieve hot plates from the church kitchen on Arlington Avenue and fan out into Riverside and surrounding communities.

On-site meal service is also planned at the church property, where upwards of 500 people often gather to enjoy Thanksgiving dinners. The only exception was in 2020, when restrictions on public gatherings prevented volunteers from providing dinners inside or outside the house of worship.

Turkeys, along with stuffing, mashed potatoes and other trappings are made in the church kitchen, typically with help from a Riverside-based catering service.

"Everyone is invited to join in sharing Thanksgiving dinners together with our families from Central Community," according to the church.

Anyone interested in lending a hand this year -- or may know of someone who needs a meal delivered -- was asked to contact the church at 951- 689-5806.

Further information is also available at www.centralcommunity.com.