- NEWS
- SPORTS
- BUSINESS
- ENTERTAINMENT
- LIFE
- TRAVEL
- A ‘Flying Fortress' flies in O.C. 1 hour & 13 minutes ago
- Tug of war over $157,076: County seeks relief in court 1 hour & 16 minutes ago
- Beer, betting and bikinis in Vegas
- Mexico fights for its image
- OPINION
East Orange: Food bank short hundreds of turkeys
November 24th, 2009, 3:50 pm · 12 Comments · posted by Kevin Sablan
A local food bank is struggling to collect turkeys for its annual Thanksgiving outreach scheduled for tomorrow — despite an expected increase in the turnout compared to last year.
The food bank needs about 450 turkeys, said Michelle Hensley, Youarespecial’s director.
The food bank has 200 turkeys now.
About 400 low-income and homeless people showed up last year, Hensley said, but that number is expected to increase to about 680, based on the group’s sign-up sheet.
The food bank hands out not-yet-cooked, packaged meals to the recipients so they can take the food home and prepare it for their families. The outreach program will occur at 3526 E. Chapman Ave., behind the Carl’s Jr.
In past years, local branches of grocery stores sold turkeys to volunteers and donors of Youarespecial at discounted rates.
Last year, the food bank was allowed to buy turkeys at 39 cents a pound, compared to more than a dollar a pound at regular price, Hensley said.
This year however, groceries have declined to sell the turkeys for less.
“Usually, the grocery stores help us more but that is not the case this year. We are not even able to purchase them at a discount,” said Hensley. “The branch managers were willing to participate but corporate offices refused.”
Volunteers set up drop-offs outside groceries in Orange, Tustin and Santa Ana over the weekend, and the food bank has been able to collect other food items such as vegetables, dinner rolls and potatoes, Hensley said.
“The community has been good to us, but we still need turkeys.”
Youarespecial is run by the Covenant Life Christian Church. For those interested in donating, call 714-863-6058.
–By Martin Syjuco
Reader Comments
Comments are encouraged, but you must follow our User Agreement.- Keep it civil and stay on topic.
- No profanity, vulgarity, racial slurs or personal attacks.
- People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
12 Comments
-
ADVERTISEMENT
-
ADVERTISEMENT
Meet the bloggers and contact them
Follow us on Twitter
Thank you Martin! Great article. The community has already begun responding. We have appreciated how well the people respond and give to a great need.
maybe if they would screen the recipients for their citizenship before handing out the food there would be enough for the american citizens. Ever think of that??? Why should an american have to get in line behind an illegal foreigner at an american food bank for god sakes??? One way to screen is only give out food to those who SPEAK ENGLISH!!! Gee, what a concept, eh???
^^ They aren’t giving to people based on speech, look, or ethnicity. I know that they are giving from their heart, and to ANYONE who has need, whether they are black, brown, white, or even purple. “Foreigners”, as you say are just as much flesh and blood, and human as Americans are. God formed everyone on this entire planet with His own hands.
Seeing as this organization is a Christian one, I am proud to say that they are following Jesus, and acting how He would have acted, and DID act while He was walking on the earth in the flesh.
“He who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, will cry and himself not be heard.”
KNH,
IMO you’re a traitor.
Anyone who feeds an illegal foreigner in America before they feed an american citizen should have their citizenship revoked.
Mexico can take care of their own peasants instead of sending them across into our country without authorization to leech off us.
Why don’t you invite 2 or 3 of these illegal foreigners to share your home, eat your food and YOU pay for their medical care. hah!
But that’s where you draw the line, isn’t it??? That’s where your generous heart ends, right??? That’s where your godly humanitarian feeling suddenly come to a screeching halt! hah!
You are all a bunch of phonies and I can’t stand you.
“OCOBSERVER”:
In response to the comment above:
1. First of all, the food bank is a non profit organization and therefore is not permitted to be “particular” towards one group or another. Those who come and are in need will be given to. Americans have to stand in line just as do any other group of individuals and no one is given special privileges; but all are given food. I dont remember the last time someone came on a Wednesday or a special give away such as this and left empty handed.
2. Since there is no law concerning what groups/religions may or may not operate food banks, we happen to be Christians. As a group of people who wish to represent Christ in our personal lives it will undoubtedly be seen in our vocational duties.Therefore, since we desire to live according to his standards, we CHOOSE not be particular in our giving. We will give to any nationality that is in need. We will give to anyone who is hungry or without and especially for Thanksgiving.
I’m in awe at how many people were (and are) able to give this year in light of our current economic situation. God bless everyone who has donated at the grocery stores and at the church – I am praying that God brings increase to you (in some way, shape or form) because of your generosity.
Taylor –
1. Then your rules are totally screwed up. However you want to spin it, feeding an illegal foreigner before you feed an american citizen in America not just wrong, it’s evil. They come across the border to leech off of us and you give them free handouts. Shame on you!! We pay $10 billion a year in just California to care for these parasites. Wrong!!! Let their countries of origin take care of their own instead of sending them over to steal our taxdollar!!!
2. If you’re such a christian then let 2 or 3 illegal families move into your home. You feed them. You clothe them. You pay for their medical care, Mr. Christian. But no. You won’t have any part of that!!! But you expect the rest of us to take care of them. H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E!
Thanks to those in the community who brought turkeys and helped feed the many individuals who had a need.
Bless you ocobserver…may you have a blessed Thanksgiving! Would you like to join us for Thanksgiving?
Michelle,
Thanks for the invite but I shared Thanksgiving with family.
I urge you to show patriotism to your fellow Americans when distributing food at the food bank. It would be disgraceful to feed illegal foreigners before citizen veterans who have risked their lives so that people like you could enjoy the freedoms of living in America. Utterly disgraceful. Please keep that in mind. Thank you.
Michelle, how can we donate in the future? Will this same event be taking place for Christmas? Are there non-food items we can donate or is food preferred?
It is true that immigration is a political problem and needs to be solved. It is true that “illegal aliens” do use American’s tax money for their benefit. Personally I have my political views concerning this issue, which I will not mix with the “higher” rules which are in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, such as “… he who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors God has mercy on the needy…” (Proverbs 14:31)
OCOBSERVER is not very observant… for if he was, he would have observed that not only illegal aliens from Mexico were in our line, as if all “illegals” were of Mexican origin, OCOBSERVER quote: “Mexico can take care of their own peasants instead of sending them across into our country without authorization to leech off us…”; but we also have “illegals” from Mongolia in our food line, and South America. And we also have every “American” from all backgrounds of ethnicity; social statuses and lifestyles. All have received at one time or another “help in their time of need”.
As far as inviting people into our home, we did. We invited them into the “House of God” and when I was being thankful for my family on Thanksgiving Day, I knew there were hundreds of families I was being thankful with, because they could have a Thanksgiving dinner… and so I went to their homes and they were at my home.
As far as being “Patriotic” to America and to our men and women in service to this great Nation, we have given to our troops in Iraq care packages and cards and letters, and have prayed for the safe homecoming of those in which we are in debt too. We were bestowed great honor by a Staff Sergeant; an American Flag which was flown by our USMC at Camp Gargoyle, Al Asad Air Base, Al Anbar Province in the Republic of Iraq. If OCOBSERVER was so observant, he would have taken the time to observe the “facts” and not just his biases.
So by feeding “whosever” we are acknowledging the tremendous sacrifices which our military has given us to preserve freedom. The freedom to “voice” an opinion, not matter how perfidious it is, or to reach out to a human being, made in the image of God, no matter what Nationality or Citizenship they are. We will live by higher rules, we will live by the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we will value all humanity which comes to us in need. Any other thought than this is “evil”.
Dear Melinda,
Yes, we do the same thing for Christmas. We work as a team to provide toys for the many low income all around Orange County, California. Our website is http://www.youarespecial.org. You can call and see what we need.
Merry Christmas!