SHARING THANKS; HELPING HANDS LIFT L.A. HOLIDAY SPIRITS.

Byline: Ivan Sciupac and Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writers

For 7-year-old Alfred Aflores, getting out of bed at 6 a.m. to help serve Thanksgiving dinner to the needy was tough.

But as he ran back and forth refilling drinks in the dining hall of the Pacoima Valley Crossroads SDA Church, the boy said it felt great to be helping people on Thanksgiving Day.

``I didn't want to, but then I liked it,'' Alfred said.

More than 2,000 meals were served to homeless and needy people at the Seventh-day Adventist church, said Jane McGlory, coordinator of the 13th annual Thanksgiving dinner.

``We started doing this because there were so many homeless people,'' McGlory said. ``We used to give out bags of groceries but we saw they couldn't cook. So we said: Oh well, let's cook.''

The Pacoima church was one of many places where volunteers took time off from their own holiday festivities to reach out to those in need. From the turkey and trimmings actor Dick Van Dyke was helping serve at the 84th Thanksgiving dinner at the Midnight Mission in Los Angeles to the volunteers from the East Valley Multipurpose Senior Center who brought meals to seniors who can't leave their homes, it was a day of giving thanks by giving a hand to others.

U.S. Rep. Howard Berman, D-Mission Hills, came out to help in Pacoima, complete with a yellow apron and a chef's hat.

``It's just great to see people partake of something they wouldn't otherwise have,'' Berman said. ``It motivates us a lot to help.''

For Kenny Jackson, the dinner was like a blessing.

``I have nowhere to go. I've been in the streets all day and night,'' Jackson said. ``I appreciate it. I really do.''

Fred Aflores, Alfred's dad, was volunteering for his sixth Thanksgiving in a row.

`It's a great thing to do something for this neighborhood, the community that raised me,'' Aflores said.

A carnival atmosphere greeted the hundreds of families who enjoyed a free Thanksgiving dinner at the Guadalupe Community Center in Canoga Park.

The turkey dinners served by about 80 volunteers organized by the West Valley Police Activity League were an ample main course, accompanied by mashed potatoes, dressing, cranberry sauce, corn, applesauce and fruit. Organizers planned for 800 diners.

The center also organized a petting zoo - actually five snakes, including a massive boa - a magician, face painting and a coloring table.

``There's a lot to do,'' said Francisco Anzuras. ``I liked the magician myself.''

The Canoga Park machinist brought his wife, two daughters and his parents for the meal and festivities. ``It was very good, very delicious,'' he said.

Helping serve some of the meals was Karla Arriaran, a California State University, Northridge, student who brought along her younger sister Kathya and brother Jonathan.

``I think it's important to volunteer. But I think it's also important for people to realize these people need help all year,'' said the 21-year-old, looking over the crowd seated outside and inside the center. ``I wouldn't think that so many people would show up.''

The benefits of the day's activities were not lost on her sister Kathya.

``We've always had enough food and everything. It makes you realize that not everybody has what you do,'' said the 20-year-old Pierce College student.

The 12th annual event was billed as a free dinner for a deserving neighborhood. Organized by the Police Activities League, the dinner also drew volunteers from the Woodland Hills Optimists Club, the Community Police Advisory Board and the American Legion Post in Reseda, said Ann Kinzle, league president.

``It takes about three months to plan this. It takes time, but you can see it works,'' she said.

Rocko Friedkin has volunteered at the event since the first year, when a dozen volunteers and about 200 diners turned out. The Tarzana businessman said he is not surprised the numbers of both have continued to grow.

``We talk about making a better society, but people need to do something about it,'' Friedkin said.

``People like to give back something that will add to the community, especially on a day when so many people are lonely,'' he said. ``It's from the heart.''

Sandra Garcia was thankful for such generosity.

The single mother walked nine blocks with her boys, ages 5 and 4, and girls, ages 8 and 3, to pick up meals for the whole family. They loaded a shopping cart for the return home.

``I came two years ago. Last year I was in Mexico,'' she said. ``I like it because some people like us don't have money for Thanksgiving. This is great for my kids.''

Among the many other volunteer events held Thursday, dinner was served to the needy at the Elks Lodge of San Fernando and to seniors at the Rotary Club of Calabasas. Volunteers with Organization for the Needs of the Elderly delivered meals to seniors in the Valley.

And in Los Angeles, holiday lunch was served at the Fred Jordan Mission, where those in need were able to make free telephone calls to their families anywhere in the United States, courtesy of L.A. Cellular.

Dinner was served at the Union Rescue Mission, and a Thanksgiving meal was sponsored by Jacobs Cafe and the Staples Center.

County Supervisor Mike Antonovich was scheduled to be among those serving up 3,000 ``Dinner-In-The-Park'' meals in Central Park in Pasadena. Musical entertainment was to be part of the holiday festivities at the Hawkins House of Burgers on Slater Avenue in Los Angeles.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

PHOTO (1 -- color) Lorenzo Butler enjoys a free Thanksgiving lunch, one of 2,000 served at the Valley Crossroads SDA Church in Pacoima.

(2) U.S. Rep. Howard Berman, left, helps dish up holiday meals for the needy Thursday at a Seventh-day Adventist church in Pacoima.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News