SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Around 2,000 people in need this holiday were able to enjoy a hot Thanksgiving dinner at the Salvation Army in the downtown area.
Doors opened at 11:30 a.m. Thursday for the organization's 31st Annual Thanksgiving Event Golden Hall where more than 1,500 people served a Thanksgiving meal. However, for everyone the best part about this event - is the people.
“This year the need is still great even though economy is going better there's still a lot of people,” said Maj. Les Cano with the Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army and more than 300 volunteers serving a Thanksgiving meal complete with turkey and all the fixings.
“The people here today are single are seniors there are homeless there are people who just want to be with other people today. Anyone is welcome,” continued Cano.
Among the crowd is Henry Mervynne:
“I see some of the same people here every year.”
He says he always looks forward to this holiday, looks forward to the familiar faces and to feeling like he's a part of something
“They give you a place feeling like you belong somewhere,” Mervynne noted.
For some of the volunteers, spending Thanksgiving here is a tradition. Mayor Kevin Faulconer brought his family:
“It's all about being thankful being thankful for what we have, thankful that we have the opportunity to help others and that's what today is about.”
At Thursday's dinner there was 800 pounds of turkey, 400 pounds of mashed potatoes and 2,000 slices of pumpkin pie.
The Salvation Army has been serving anyone looking for a warm meal since 1887