Lents neighbors bestow Thanksgiving dinners

Look, and see how a group of outer East Portland neighbors are making sure Lents families in need have a great Thanksgiving Day …

Volunteers put the finishing touches on the Thanksgiving Day dinner boxes, about to be distributed to families in need.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

In this time of an apparent strong economy, many families enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving Day dinner with all the trimmings.

But, some families, in less personally advantageous situations, have – at best – a meager celebration.

Knowing that, a group of 17 volunteers showed up on Thanksgiving morning, November 26, to help the Lents Neighborhood Livability Association (LNLA) in the Mt. Scott Church of God “Community Connection Center” to pack and deliver complete Thanksgiving Day dinners.

-2 “Lents Neighborhood Livability Association” Chair David Potts – with boxes of Thanksgiving dinner.

“This is our third year of doing this,” remarked LNLA President David Potts, as he used a hand truck to maneuver a stack of boxes.

“The first year, we provided 20 turkeys; and last year we delivered 25 entire dinners,” Potts told East Portland News. “We are ‘doubling down’ this year, and are providing 50 complete dinners.”

Those chosen to receive the dinner boxes were families of 4th graders in Lents schools, Potts reported — Oliver P. Lent, Earl Boyles, Kelly Elementary, and Kelly Headstart.

-3 The volunteers stacking boxes for delivery are DJ Antlitz, Maureen Murphy, and Marty Wegner.

Families weren’t given a couple of “TV Dinners”; each family received:

A Turkey
Boxed Dressing
Gravy Mix ~ Whole Potatoes
1 can each of corn, yams, green beans, black olives, cranberry sauce
1 jar each of sweet pickles and dill pickles
1 package of dinner rolls ~ 1 package of marshmallows
1 tub of soft margarine ~ 1 pumpkin pie ~ Kool Whip

“And, based on a suggestion from a school last year, we’re also including a bag of chocolates, for kids who don’t like pumpkin pie,” added organizer Char Pennie.

Some of the food came courtesy of Fred Meyer and the Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division. The balance was purchased by the volunteers.

Volunteers from the Community Connections Center and LNLA check their delivery lists.

This year’s donor honor roll:

Penny Wilson ~ Renee Dutton ~ Jillian Mathews
Juanita & Tom Swartwood ~ Matt Haehlen
Michelle Mathews Crawford ~ Krista Dennis
Barbara Tate ~ Betty Manning ~ Robert Santangelo
Kat Taylor ~ Frank Miley ~ Kindest ~ Danny Case
Carmelina Wills ~ Geannie Newell ~ Neola Larsen
Marilyn & Pete Thomas

Learn more about the LNLA by visiting their website: CLICK HERE.

>> On our Front Page: Volunteer Bob Santangelo loads Thanksgiving meal boxes into a van for delivery.

Comments are closed.