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# I enjoy the guests’ warmth and
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/i-e-n-j-o-y-t-h-e-g-u-e-s-t-s-w-a-r-m-t-h-a-n-d/
- Published: 2007-11-22T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T01:16:48.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless

*THANKFULNESS.”*

*By Rick McGeagh,volunteer, St. Monica Catholic Church* and the largest constituency today is the homeless community. The dinner has remained virtually the same over the years, always held on the day before Thanksgiving and always donated and cooked by volunteers in the church community. The newest component — added about 18 years ago — is the complimentary clothing boutique, including new and used items donated by parishioners.

Many of the guests are returning customers.

“The food here is better than in some other places and the people are friendly,” said a homeless man who asked to remain anonymous. Trying to get back on his feet, the man perused through a stack of clothes at the boutique after dinner, finding a pair of work clothes he could wear for a company he is trying to jump-start.

About 115 turkeys were expected to be carved for this year’s dinner, 90 of which were provided by parishioners. The rest were donated by organizations and businesses, including the Sheraton Delfina, which pitched in a dozen turkeys. Volunteers started cooking on Tuesday night in the church’s kitchen, which was split up by dish, including a section dedicated to the preparation of mashed potatoes, another to green beans and stuffing.

The dinner has averaged about 800 to 850 guests in the past few years, and at one time, fed 1,100 people during a Thanksgiving dinner in the late 1980s, according to Delis Alejandro, a pastoral associate who handles peace and social ministries for St. Monica church.

The more than 400 volunteers that pitched in for the event includes about 50 students from St. Monica High School and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, splitting their time between the dining hall and the clothing boutique.

For many of the students, the event was an eye-opening experience, seeing firsthand the obstacles facing the homeless population.

“I couldn’t believe there are so many people in need of clothing, which is a basic necessity in life,” said Nelson Saravia, a senior at St. Monica High School.

Saravia and fellow schoolmate, Chloe Scott, a freshman, volunteered to fulfill their school-required community service hours. While Saravia volunteered at the dinner last year, this was Scott’s first time.

“I didn’t expect to see this many people,” Scott said.

“It’s nice to see so many people care about homeless people.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 22, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/112207.pdf?ref=smdp.com)