The group is aiming to serve about 300 meals, but will not turn away additional visitors, Ray said.
“If it’s more, we definitely have the food for it,” Ray said.
Salem Lutheran Church and School will host its first Thanksgiving holiday meal Thursday, planning to serve about 150 guests, said Steve Starleaf, who organized the event along with Parent Teacher Organization President Gary Barsegian.
The meal will start at 11 a.m. and be served by about three dozen student volunteers ranging from pre-kindergarten to the sixth grade, Starleaf said.
The organization has received more reservations for the meal than it anticipated and opted to redirect people to the Salvation Army event instead, but some callers have insisted on attending regardless, Starleaf said.
One woman, in particular, made an impression on organizers about the high level of need in the community, he said.
“We said, ‘Sorry, we’re closed. You’ll have to go to the Salvation Army in Glendale.’ And she goes, ‘I called twice today. My husband and I are hungry. We’re eating one meal a day. We’re waiting for this meal,’” Starleaf said.
The group decided to continue accepting visitors, even if they arrive at the event, at 1211 N. Brand Blvd., without a reservation.
“We’ll do whatever we have to do to feed everybody,” he said.
Demand for food assistance has skyrocketed as Glendale’s unemployment rate has climbed to its current level of 11%, service organizations said.
“It’s busy this time of the year, but this is about double what it usually is because of the economy,” said Lora Young, coordinator of the food pantry run by the Catholic Charities’ Loaves and Fishes program.
The pantry handed out enough food for more than 50 households before midday Tuesday and served 67 households Monday, matching high demand that has extended through the last week, Young said.
