Various Village Meals Offer Reason to Give Thanks

   SAN DIEGO — St. Vincent de Paul Village will begin its holiday meal service on Wednesday, Nov. 22, when it welcomes non-residents to take part in its annual Thanksgiving lunch at 11:30 a.m. at its campus located at 1501 Imperial Avenue.

   More than 1,500 homeless individuals will enjoy turkey and all the trimmings at the lunch, which will be served by 113 volunteers, 60 of them high school students from Balboa Secondary School.

   On Thursday, Nov. 23, El Indio Restaurant will prepare a traditional Mexican breakfast for as many as 1,200 residents and non-residents at 8 a.m. at the Village.

   The Thanksgiving feast will continue later in the day, but the venue will change as 200 Village teens and single adults attend lunch at the Hard Rock Café La Jolla at 909 Prospect.

   St. Vincent’s president Father Joe Carroll says the public meals often represent the introduction to programs and services at the Village and take on a special meaning during the holidays.

   "Something I always say is ‘it all starts with a meal,’ " he says. Thanksgiving helps us all reflect on the many things for which we should
be thankful."

   Serving the large number of clients is nothing new to the kitchen staff at the Village, says Father Joe.

   "Our cooks provide anywhere from 3,500 to 4,000 meals everyday," he says. "This is a drop in the bucket."

   The Village would like to thank El Indio Restaurant, Hard Rock Café La Jolla and the many volunteers who make these holiday meals possible.

   For more information on St. Vincent’s holiday meals, call (619) 525-1608. For more information on Village programs, call (619) 687-1000.

# # #