Thanksgiving Feasts

Community to set a table for needy on holiday

By Rob Cullivan

The Gresham Outlook, Nov 14, 2009

Jim Clark / Gresham Outlook

Snow-CAP warehouse manager Dave Rucker stands in the nearly empty walk-in freezer at the facility. "I've never seen it this empty,” he said. "I think people don't realize that we take frozen food."

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By Rob Cullivan

staff writer

Like many folks, Diane Davis is looking forward to Thanksgiving as an opportunity to make others feel at home with a delicious meal.

In her case, however, Davis’ “family” guests for the Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 26 will be those who drop in on the Zarephath Kitchen in Gresham.

Davis, who chairs the Zarephath Ministries Board, estimates about 85 people will show up for the dinner. That’s a little less than the 120 or more who show up Mondays through Fridays at noon to eat a free meal every week.

She notes the smaller number of guests come on Thanksgiving because other organizations — as well as some families — invite the homeless and hungry to dinners that day.

A guest at Zarephath is “typically somebody who doesn’t have a family or a place to go,” she says.

She notes working to feed the hungry has given her a new feel for the holiday that goes beyond a full belly to a fulfilled spirit.

“Basically it’s a privilege to put a meal in front of those who really appreciate it,” she says.

Here’s a roundup of what churches and groups are doing to feed the hungry on Thanksgiving, and throughout the year, in East County as well as the Portland metro area.

Zarephath Ministries

Located in a house owned by Trinity Lutheran Church, at 59 N.W. Ava Ave., and supported by numerous area churches.

Zarephath Kitchen serves free hot lunches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. You can enter the kitchen through the church parking lot, 507 W. Powell Blvd.

Zarephath Pantry, open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, provides three-day food supplies to families.

Needed donations: turkeys, fresh vegetables, milk, whipped cream, macaroni and cheese and cereal.

For more information, call 503-667-2692 or visit trinitylutherangresham.org/ministries/zarephath.htm.

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