Spirit of holiday satisfies hunger

Eric Leake

Friday, Nov. 19, 2004 | 4:31 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

November 20 - 21, 2004

Rod Hill is doing everything he can to accommodate the Thanksgiving demand at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission.

"We have been filled up for weeks, we have been jammed, we're way over what we can handle, but we're going to do some extra things," Hill said.

He's talking about Thanksgiving dinner volunteers.

The Las Vegas Rescue Mission is one place good-hearted locals go to volunteer for the holidays. It's an altruistic spirit that charity groups are thankful for and one they could use the rest of the year.

Hill, the mission's volunteer coordinator, said he has maybe 150 people scheduled to volunteer in shifts for the annual Thanksgiving dinner the night before Thanksgiving. They're almost too many.

"I'm weak. I just can't say no to volunteers. I tell them to come in anyway," Hill said.

He estimated that the mission would serve 700 to 1,000 meals of turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables and pie. The job of serving meals, greeting homeless and cleaning tables is in high demand because people so want to help, Hill said.

"They get in the giving mood. It's the holidays," he said. "It's time to share, especially with those that are less fortunate. I think it's probably just an American tradition."

Hill tries to direct the overflow of volunteers to help with the mission's other services, at the women and children's center or in the warehouse or the charity store.

Or, if volunteers really want to wear an apron, the kitchen is open every other night of the year.

"We're trying to get it so what happens in November and December, it happens the entire year," Hill said. "I'd love to see 15 people in that dining hall every single night."

Along with the dinner, the mission will pass out food baskets to needy families today and is in the midst of fund-raising and food drives. A newspaper ad campaign asks for sponsorship of Thanksgiving dinners at $1.79 per meal.

"We've done really good in that," said Christal Krehnovi, mission donation manager. "And that's really going to help us. We need turkeys and that sort of thing."

She could not say how many turkeys or dollars the mission hopes to collect in the campaign.

Krehnovi did say the ad prompted not only donations but advice, including suggestions that the bearded man in the picture, which was not taken by the mission, get a haircut and shave.

Along with its usual activities, the mission will also start a toy drive the day after Thanksgiving. People who want to help can call Hill at 382-1766 to volunteer and Krehnovi at 382-1766 to donate.

Help of Southern Nevada won't be serving any Thanksgiving meals, but will give needy families what they need to cook their own.

"We give them everything except the pan that they're going to use to bake their goods," said Norma Rodriguez, Help of Southern Nevada community service manager.

Rodriguez said the food baskets mean a lot to people, even when they include one of the more popular slough donations, SPAM.

Though their food drive has ended, Help can still use volunteers to assist distribute about 1,500 food baskets Monday through Wednesday and to help with its annual toy drive.

To volunteer, call Rodriguez at 369-4357, ext. 229.

Lima beans, cream corn, and other not-so-popular canned goods are good enough for the Scouting for Food food drive.

Boy Scouts of America Boulder Dam Council Activities Director Gary Lewis said it's called "cleaning out the closet" when people donate all their unwanted food.

"That's not exactly what we want, but we'll take it too," Lewis said, adding that high-protein and nutritious foods are most appreciated.

Scouts began leaving bags on local doorsteps Monday. They will collect them today. They will also be collecting food at most area Smith's Food and Drug stores.

Lewis said Scouts passed out 360,000 bags and hope to collect near 200 tons of food, roughly 400,000 items, all destined the Salvation Army food bank.

That is food sorely needed, said Karen Lobach, Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family and volunteer coordinator.

"We used to be able to give out about four or five days of food when families came in. Now we're at about one and a half days of food because our food supplies are really low," Lobach said.

While food supplies are low, the Salvation Army has a surplus of volunteers for its annual Thanksgiving dinner. Lobach said people started signing up to help after last Christmas.

"We have so many volunteers that we have a waiting list," she said. But there are many opportunities for people wanting to help.

Lobach said people may help serve meals at the Salvation Army's Homeless Center any night of the year. People may also volunteer with the charity's after school program, donation center, and annual Angel Tree gift collection.

To volunteer, call Lobach at 870-4430 ext. 28.

For more information on additional holiday relief programs, call the City Mission of Las Vegas at 384-1930 or Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada at 385-2662.