Hundreds Served Free Thanksgiving Meal at Golden Hall

Hundreds of guests were served a hot Thanksgiving meal at Golden Hall on Thursday by the Salvation Army.

About 350 volunteers, including the cast of a traveling Cirque du Soleil show Toruk, Chopper the Biker Dog and San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, served the meals. About 1,800 people came to the Thanksgiving feast.

The free meal was intended for anyone looking for a hot dinner and company, not just if you were homeless, organizers said.

The tradition started at Golden Hall in 1983, when philanthropist Joan Kroc began the large community dinner as a way to ensure no one spent the holiday alone.

One of the volunteers, Laura Silverman, said she thinks it’s crucial to volunteer for Thanksgiving events to show the community that others care.

β€œEspecially right now,” Silverman said. β€œWe’re really in a time where we need to come together.”

The massive feast included 355 pounds of turkey, 340 pounds of stuffing, 570 pounds of green beans and 360 pounds of mashed potatoes.

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