As we gear up for the season of gathering and gratitude, giving back is often a priority.
Tucson offers ample opportunity to foster that attitude with donations of time, talent or treasure to local nonprofits.
The Gospel Rescue Mission needs at least 250 turkeys and other foods to prepare 3,000 meals for the Annual “Blessings to Go” Dine-in and Drive-Through feast from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at the H.S. Lopez Family Foundation Center of Opportunity, 4550 S. Palo Verde Rd.
“We have found it beneficial for people to have the option to drive through or dine with us, and this year the dine-in option offers a festival and resource fair with activities for kids, social service providers, haircuts and other services. We want to make people aware of the resources that are available. We also provide resource boxes with non-perishable foods, household items and hygiene products for people to take home,” said Lisa Chastain, CEO of Gospel Rescue Mission.
The annual feast has been fueled by the growth of the H.S. Lopez Family Foundation Center of Opportunity, a collaborative campus and comprehensive nonprofit designed to address homelessness.
Chasten said the center provides enhanced shelter services and other resources to help the homeless take positive steps to restoring quality of life. Resources include 350 shelter beds; 100 one-bedroom permanent apartments; service of 1,000 meals daily; addiction recovery services, mental health care; medical and dental services; job training; veterans services; and much more.
“We have more than 50 different services working together under one campus to bring people from homelessness to wholeness. Since we opened in 2019, we have helped at least 10,000 people with at least one service and many more with multiple services. We have put almost 2,000 people in jobs that stimulate the economy, placed 1,500 people in permanent housing and set hundreds free from the bonds of addiction with addiction recovery services. Homelessness is a complicated problem and it takes all of us working together to address the issues,” said Chastain.
The Salvation Army will do its part to provide a free feast for 600 people on Thanksgiving day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Salvation Army Army Hospitality House, 1002 N. Main Ave.
“We welcome everyone: Anyone who wants a hot meal on Thanksgiving, people without family, people who don’t want to cook,” said Captain Christopher Kim, city coordinator of the Salvation Army Tucson.
To that end, Kim is seeking donations of at least 100 turkeys and all of the trimmings for the dine-in only event; monetary donations are also welcome.
Casa Maria Soup Kitchen is also in need of at least 30 turkeys for its signature “South Side Turkey Soup,” according to Brian Flagg, a long-time worker at the kitchen and council member for the City of South Tucson.
“Our cooks always do turkey soup around Thanksgiving and it is a huge hit. People really like it. Our South Side soups are famous and turkey makes them even better,” said Flagg.
About 400 people and 80 families partake in the lunch provided every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas; families are also offered bags of fresh and nonperishable foods to take home.
“A lot of our clients are homeless, but not everyone. Many are poor people who need something to eat and the families tend to live in the neighborhoods near us. We try to help anyone in need,” said Flagg.
