Thanksgiving: Nonprofit Hosts 24th Charitable Dinner

NEWARK — Hundreds of volunteers took time to give back this Thanksgiving by feeding guests of the 24th Annual League of Volunteers Thanksgiving Day Dinner.

Thousands of meals were served throughout the four-hour event, which feeds hundreds of Southern Alameda County residents. 

View the video above for sights and sounds from the event.

Hosted by the Newark-based, nonprofit organization that is also known as LOV, the Thanksgiving-themed feast aims to feed individuals in need, whether the attendees can't afford to make a meal, are without a family or are homeless.

And holding the event was no easy task.

More than 300 volunteers, one as young as 12-years-old, assisted in preparing and serving the Thanksgiving meals, which consisted of turkey, ham, dressing, potatoes, green beans, corn, yams and pie, according to volunteer Donalyn Deeds.

A total of 320 turkeys and 80 hams were cooked and carved to make approximately 5,000 meals, which were either delivered, brought home or eaten at the Newark Pavilion. 

Approximately 800 individuals were also given a free bag of groceries to take home.

Last year, LOV served 5,485 meals, compared with 500 meals the organization's volunteers served when the annual event first launched. 

For more information about LOV, visit www.lov.org.