Volunteers Sought For Thanksgiving Meal Deliveries

RIVERSIDE, CA — A Riverside church that provides meals to thousands of Riverside County residents on Thanksgiving each year sent a call out Tuesday asking 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," Central Community Christian Fellowship said in a statement. "We need volunteers each year to help serve and deliver the dinners to our community."

This Thanksgiving will mark the 36th year that the church has made meal deliveries available as part of its Thanksgiving Day Outreach.

In previous years, over 4,000 meals have dished out, largely to Meals-on-Wheels recipients. However, during the COVID 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 in the metropolitan area.

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

Turkeys, along with stuffing, mashed potatoes and other trimmings 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, or via email at office@centralcommunity.com.

Further information is available at www.centralcommunity.com.