Imagine shopping for a dinner party with the guest list numbering in the thousands. That’s a little what it’s like if you are organizing one of the city’s biggest Thanksgiving meals.
Thanksgiving Blessing is an event that takes place in the Mat-Su Valley this Saturday and in Anchorage on Monday. There are half a dozen sites in the Anchorage area where people can pick up food to make a complete Thanksgiving meal.
Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Muldoon is one of the sites. For the last 10 years, Dave Patterson and Rich Arsenault have helped to organize the event there. On Friday, the pair spent the day picking up thousands of cans of food from local schools. Canned corn, green beans and cranberry jelly — all staples of a holiday meal.
Patterson explained that the turkeys were donated by the Food Bank of Alaska, but many community partners donate the rest. This year they will need plenty of food, as they’re expecting to feed 1,500 families just at Saint Pat’s.
“If you figure there is five people in the average family, that’s about 7,500,” Patterson said.
Organizers at other sites say they too are expecting a big turnout, based on increased use at local food pantries this year.
Anyone can participate in the Thanksgiving Blessing, regardless of income. But organizers ask that people bring some proof of address since the sites are organized by zip code. Call United Way’s 211 line for more information.
Valley Blessing
Saturday, Nov. 21 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Faith Bible Fellowship
14159 West Hollywood Road, Big Lake (Mile 2.5 Big Lake Road)
907-892-8545
Available to residents in zip code: 99652, 99624, 99623 (near Big Lake), 99694
Fellowship Lutheran Church
Mile 1.1 Petersville Road, Trapper Creek
Available to residents in zip code: 99683
Wasilla Bible Church
1651 West Nicola Avenue, Wasilla
907-376-2176
Available to residents in zip codes: 99623 (near Wasilla), 99629, 99654, 99687
Real Life Church
10697 East Palmer Wasilla Highway, Palmer (Mile 2 Palmer-Wasilla Highway)
907-745-5673
Available to residents in zip codes: 99645, 99674
Upper Susitna Senior Center
16463 E. Helena Street, Talkeetna (Mile 98.5 Parks Highway)
907-733-2710 (Jenny)
Available to residents in zip codes: 99676, 99667
Willow United Methodist Church
Mile 67.5 Parks Highway, Willow
907-495-6638
Available to residents in zip code: 99688, 99694
Anchorage Blessing
Monday, Nov. 23 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Crosspoint Church
1920 W Dimond Blvd #K, Anchorage, AK 99515
Available to residents in zip codes: 99507, 99511, 99515, 99516, 99518, 99522, 99523, 99540, 99587
New Season Christian Center
Spenard Recreation Center at 2020 West 48th Avenue
Available to residents in zip codes: 99502, 99517, 99519
Central Lutheran Church
1420 Cordova Street, Anchorage, AK 99501
Available to residents in zip codes: 99501, 99503, 99510, 99512, 99513, 99520, 99524
St. Patrick’s Church
2111 Muldoon Road, Anchorage, AK 99504
Available to residents in zip codes: 99504, 99509, 99521
Joy Lutheran Church
10111 E. Eagle River Loop Road, Eagle River, AK 99577
Available to residents in zip codes: 99505, 99506, 99567, 99577
Friday, February 17 2017 12:06 PM EST2017-02-17 17:06:28 GMT
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