RESERVE OFFICERS PUTTING ON FEAST : MEALS SCHEDULED AROUND AREA.Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer Steve Sampson Steve Sampson (born January 19, 1957 in Salt Lake City, Utah) is a soccer coach and the former head coach of the United States men's national team and the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. helped serve a free Thanksgiving dinner The centerpiece of contemporary Thanksgiving in the United States is a large meal, starring a large roasted turkey. All of the dishes in the traditional American version of Thanksgiving Dinner are made from foods native to North America, according to tradition the Pilgrims received these six years ago, when a group of Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. police officers volunteered to cook for about 100 homeless people. Two years later, when the Simi Valley Reserve Police Officers Association took over the event and needed someone to run it, Sampson stepped in. This year, he expects volunteers to serve up to 500 people in less than three hours Wednesday at the Simi Valley Senior Citizens Center, 3900 Avenida Simi. ``We started out feeding the homeless, but there weren't a lot of homeless to serve - maybe a maximum of 100-125 people,'' said Sampson, a reserve sergeant for the Simi Valley Police Department The Simi Valley Police Department (SVPD) is the police department of the city of Simi Valley, California. The department currently has over 120 sworn officers, and more than 65 support personnel[1]. The department has a patrol area that covers over 39 square miles. . ``I figured there are a lot of people who have a home but not a lot of food in their kitchens.'' Instead of calling the event a meal for the homeless, it became the Simi Valley annual Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, open to anyone who needs a place to go for the holiday, Sampson said. ``We say, if you don't have anywhere to go, come on by,'' Sampson said, ``even if it's just to visit and talk awhile.'' Nothing has been left off the menu: Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes n. pl. 1. Potatoes which have been boiled and mashed to a pulpy consistency, usu. with sparing addition of milk, salt, butter, or other flavoring. It is a popular accompaniment to a meat course [U.S., 1900's], providing bulk and calories to a meal. , gravy, cranberry sauce (whole and jellied jel·lied adj. 1. Chilled or otherwise congealed into jelly. 2. Coated with jelly. 3. Prepared or cooked in or with jelly. ), yams, green beans green beans Noun, pl long narrow green beans that are cooked and eaten as a vegetable and corn will be served, followed by coffee, tea, pies and sweets, Sampson said. ``This is not a TV dinner. This is what you'd sit down to at home,'' Sampson said. On Monday, Sampson delivered the 30 turkeys donated by the California Water Service Co. to Maverick's Restaurant in Simi Valley, which volunteered to cook them. ``This gives us a positive contact with people,'' Sampson said. ``We're not handing them a ticket, we're handing them a nice meal.'' Sampson has encouraged those without transportation to make reservations with Dial-A-Ride by 4 p.m. today. Drivers will work longer hours to take people home after dinner. Call (805) 583-6464. Several other organizations will also be serving a Thanksgiving meal. Grace Brethren Church, 2762 Avenida Simi, will serve its weekly Thursday dinner and Catholic Charities of Moorpark, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. will be delivering boxes of food with turkeys. One of the biggest Thanksgiving meals is served by the Salvation Army Salvation Army, Protestant denomination and international nonsectarian Christian organization for evangelical and philanthropic work. Organization and Beliefs The Salvation Army has established branches in 100 countries throughout the world. in Oxnard, where 732 people will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday. Visitors had to show financial need, said Margie Zamora, office manager for the Oxnard Corps, 622 W. Wooley Road. For those interested in a not-so-traditional Thanksgiving meal, Super Tommy's, at 3085 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, will be offering free chili burgers and drinks from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday. Spyros Stavros, who has owned the restaurant with his brother-in-law Nick Sklavenitis for three months, said they decided to make the offer in the spirit of the holiday. ``It's Thanksgiving. No questions, no nothing, just come by and pick up a burger and a drink,'' Stavros said. ``There aren't a lot of homeless people in Thousand Oaks, but that's OK. Everyone's welcome.'' |
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