Holiday meal planned for Merced’s less fortunate

Hundreds of people in need are expected to dine in shifts during a free meal on Thanksgiving Day, which organizers say also serves as a time for fellowship in Merced.

The Merced County Rescue Mission will hold its annual Thanksgiving meal for the less fortunate from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the American Legion Hall, 939 W. Main St. The diners will also get a chance to pick up some clothes from the mission’s closet after eating.

Phil Schmauss, director of marketing for the mission, said the day will produce enough food to feed about 2,000 people, though the meal typically draws between 1,000 and 1,200 eaters. The leftovers are given away to other nonprofits or used to feed people who visit the mission, he said.

There are 768 homeless people in Merced County, including 21 children, based on the 2014 Homeless Count and Survey.

The mission’s feast of food attracts people of all kinds, from those who live on the street and families who need a helping hand to others looking for company and the volunteers who dole out the food.

In past years, a line has formed down the block from the hall as people wait to get a plate piled with turkey, mashed potatoes, pie and other fixings. In that time, the meal has also grown to feed more and more people.

So many people gather to eat that the crowd has to wait for seats to open up as people eat in shifts.

Beyond filling hungry bellies, the meal provides a chance for people to gather with their friends and families, or to meet those sitting nearby, Schmauss said. “On Thanksgiving Day, it’s not just about being served a meal – they’re also being served love,” he said.

Those who dine at the hall are also invited to pick clothes from the donations collected by the mission, he said. “It’s a pretty cool day,” he said.

This story was originally published November 25, 2014 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Holiday meal planned for Merced’s less fortunate."