Juneau nonprofits ready Thanksgiving day meals

The meals are available for anyone who needs one.

Courtesy Photo / Salvation Army 
The Salvation Army, supported by the United Way of Southeast Alaska and local restaurants, will be providing Thanksgiving dinner to anyone who needs one from their food truck on Nov. 26, 2020.

Courtesy Photo / Salvation Army The Salvation Army, supported by the United Way of Southeast Alaska and local restaurants, will be providing Thanksgiving dinner to anyone who needs one from their food truck on Nov. 26, 2020.

As Thanksgiving draws near, some of Juneau’s charitable nonprofits and restaurants will band together to make sure everyone in the city gets a hot meal for the holiday.

“It’s come together pretty smoothly. We live in such a great community, everyone’s willing to help,” said Gina Halverson, Salvation Army officer, in a phone interview. “Right now, it’s taken a little village. We have three restaurants that are making the meals. Dick Hand and his crew will be cooking the turkeys.”

The Salvation Army and the United Way of Southeast Alaska are working with the Hangar on the Wharf, T.K. MaGuire’s, and Bocca al Lupo to prepare nearly 600 meals for anyone who wants one in addition to the clients of several local shelters, said Kirk Stagg, who manages the Juneau Cares program for United Way.

[Angoon organizaton holds holiday turkey drive in Juneau]

“We have three different restaurants that are making 200 meals each,” Stagg said in a phone interview. “We are going to deliver 500 meals to the Salvation Army food truck and 100 meals to AWARE and the Glory Hall.”

Glory Hall executive director Mariya Lovishchuk thanked the organizations for their support in this complicated time.

“The meals are coming to the Glory Hall per usual,” Lovishchuk said during a phone interview. “We’re definitely covered on all the sides.”

The meals are available for anyone from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, and will be served out of a food truck located at the Downtown Transit Center, Staff said. Anyone can come and grab a meal, for themselves or for a friend or acquaintance who may have difficulty getting out to pick up a meal themselves. Halverson said those picking up meals for others could call ahead at 586-2136 to have a meal set aside for a rapid pickup.

“Although it will look different from the customary dine-in event, I’m proud that we could come together as a community, and carry on with this tradition, despite the challenges of the so-called ‘new normal,’” said Hangar owner Reecia Wilson in a press release. “In particular, I want to acknowledge the contributions of my fellow restaurateurs, and donations we received from United Way and Salvation Army, and Dick Hand of Alaska Seafoods, who has smoked the turkeys for the past 23 years.”

While planning and executing this year’s modified dinner was difficult, Halverson, hard work from the volunteers and donations from the community allowed them to pull it off.

“It took a little village, but by the grace of god it came together,” Halverson said. “We are prepared for 500 meals. If people need it, we’re ready to give it.”

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Juneau’s yearly food basket deliveries also went off smoothly with the help of the community, said general manager Dave Ringle.

“The generosity of this community is humbling. Our biggest problem when distributing all food baskets by volunteers was keeping the traffic line from backing onto Crest Street, half a block away,” Ringle said in an email. “Over 40 vehicles with pairs of people who were in each other’s bubble helped distribute boxes. While we were missing a few items for the remaining baskets, a church youth group raised $700 over the weekend and filled those needs.”

With around 450 food baskets delivered to homes across Juneau, Ringle thanked the agencies that assisted, including the Salvation Army, Love Inc., United Way, the Zach Gordon Youth Center, and the Juneau Rotary, among others.

Need a meal?

The Salvation Army will be giving out Thanksgiving meals from their food truck to all drive-ups or walk-ups from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 26 at the Downtown Transit Center. No reservations are required. Meals will include turkey and regular Thanksgiving sides such as greens, vegetables and pie.

• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at (757) 621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Nov. 17

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, Nov. 18, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

The Douglas Island Breeze In on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
New owner seeks to transfer Douglas Island Breeze In’s retail alcohol license to Foodland IGA

Transfer would allow company to take over space next to supermarket occupied by Kenny’s Liquor Market.

A butter clam. Butter clams are found from the Aleutian Islands to the California coast. They are known to retain algal toxins longer than other species of shellfish. (Photo provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)
Among butter clams, which pose toxin dangers to Alaska harvesters, size matters, study indicates

Higher concentrations found in bigger specimens, UAS researchers find of clams on beaches near Juneau.

An aerial view of people standing near destroyed and damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding on Oct. 8, 2024 in Bat Cave, North Carolina. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Members of U.S. Senate back disaster aid request amid increasing storm severity

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration’s request for nearly $100 billion in natural… Continue reading

Media members and other observers gather at the Alaska Division of Elections office on Wednesday evening as the results of all ballots, including ranked choice tabulations, were announced. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Ranked choice voting repeal fails by 0.2%, Begich defeats Peltola 51.3%-48.7% on final day of counting

Tally released Wednesday night remains unofficial until Nov. 30 certification.

Looking through the dining room and reception area to the front door. The table will be covered with holiday treats during the afternoon open house. The Stickley slide table, when several extensions are added, provides comfortable seating for 22 dinner guests. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
The Governor’s House: Welcoming Alaskans for more than 100 years

Mansion has seen many updates to please occupants, but piano bought with first funds still playable.

The language of Ballot Measure 2 appears on Alaska’s 2024 absentee ballots. The measure would repeal the states open primary and ranked choice voting system. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)
Count tightens to 45-vote margin for repealing Alaska’s ranked choice system going into final day

State Division of Elections scheduled to conduct final tally at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

The drive-through of the Mendenhall Valley branch of True North Federal Credit Union, seen on June 13, is where a man was laying down when he was fatally struck by a truck during the early morning hours of June 1. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police: Driver of CBJ truck not at fault in death of man struck in drive-through lane of bank

Victim laying on pavement during early-morning incident in June couldn’t be seen in time, JPD chief says.

Most Read