Leo Club members help prepare Thanksgiving feast for the less fortunate
DCS Leo Club members Zach Fields, Amanda Gemmiti, Caitlin Gurney, Anna Winters, Mary Rachel Keville, MacKenzie MacQueeney, Nick Lynch, Bre Hanson, Ciara Fisher, Dani Hennel, Libby Aliberti and Abby Schaible all volunteered to help prepare for the Annual Equinox Thanksgiving Day Community Dinner which serves more than 8,000 of the Capital Region's lonely, homebound or homeless neighbors.
Organizers of this annual event have said that the event would not be possible without the help of the more than 3,000 volunteers who take roles in leadership, coordination, cooking, serving, delivering meals, and clean-up. In 2009, approximately 500 meals were served at a sit down dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Albany. The remaining 8,500 meals were prepared at the Empire State Plaza and delivered by volunteers to individuals who live within a 40-mile radius of Albany.
Ingredients for the dinner includes 10,400 pounds of turkey, 2,000 pounds of ham, 2,800 pounds of yams, 940 pies, 625 dozen dinner rolls, 48 gallons of cider and 19,500 pieces of fruit. Candles, flowers, table linens, and hand-made centerpieces from local school children adorn the dining room tables.
The Equinox Thanksgiving Community Dinner is funded entirely by generous donations from local businesses, civic groups, and private citizens. Cash, food, trucks, tables and chairs, cell phones, serving dishes, linens, aprons, soap, towels, and advertising are matched by the valuable help of our volunteers. Equinox is the coordinating and sponsoring agency. All surplus donations are used to assist needy families throughout the year.
