Mothers In Action will continue the tradition of providing Thanksgiving Day meals to the Ward Villa Senior Apartment Complex and the sick and shut in residents throughout the greater Los Angeles area on Thursday, November 26, from 9am-3pm. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the MIA Thanksgiving Day Senior Feed. Tracy Mitchell, president of MIA, keeps the annual event going.
“Mothers In Action is ecstatic about our upcoming 20th annual thanksgiving day senior feed at Ward Villas,” said Mitchell. “This gives us an opportunity to once again honor the seniors of our community that paved the way to improve the quality of life for us over the years, by serving them a hot thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings. We will also be delivering meals to the sick and shut in and serving 100 homeless individuals this year at Ward AME church, who are seeking shelter from the unrelenting cold weather.” We are also welcoming aboard this year Holman United Methodist Church who will be partnering with us for a day of service to our seniors and sick and shut in,Senior Pastor Kelvin Sauls will be spearheading the church’s involvement.
Both the late Brenda Marsh Mitchell and Lillian Mobley started the tradition in 1995 to give seniors a holiday meal during a time when many are forgotten. According to Mitchell, sometimes we are the only face that they see that day.
“We are so grateful for all the donors, volunteers, organizations and politicians that help make this event a reality,” said Mitchell.
“The Los Angeles Sentinel provides a Newspaper for everyone who receives a dinner, and has been doing so for the past 20 years, as our media partner.”
For two decades, the Thanksgiving Day Feed has offered a traditional Thanksgiving dinner complete with turkey, dressing, green beans, and macaroni & cheese, dessert and more served and delivered to seniors who are often sick and shut-in. Each meal will be delivered in a recyclable bag complete with one of our beautifully decorated cards.
Here is what some volunteers and supporters over the years have said about the Ward Villa Thanksgiving Feed:
“It’s the network of partners that allow us to serve!!!” said BC president/CEO, Charisse Bremond Weaver in 2011.
“This year, I’ll wake up early Thanksgiving day give thanks to God and head on over to Ward Villa once again to volunteer for Mothers in Action Thanksgiving Feed,” said volunteer Janet Randoph in an earlier interview. “I am committed to volunteering every year because my first year volunteering blessed me,” said volunteer Janet Randolph in 2014. “So when I delivered meals to seniors and shut in who were… so grateful to get a meal.
“It reminds me of what I take for granted.”
“We would like to thank our visionary, the late President Brenda Marsh-Mitchell, who started this event 20 years ago, our partial list of contributors Bakewell Media, Brotherhood Crusade, Bran Diva Catering, Chef Marilyn, Delta Sigma Theta, Girl Scout Troop#1565, Glory Foods, Holman UMC, Kaiser Permanente, LA Sanitation, Public Works, RFP Insurance, Sparkletts, students from G.R.Y.D., Taste of Soul, Teens of Top Ladies of Distinction, Ward Villas E.D.C., What the Funnel, Kim Brown, Tiffany Brown, Brandi Burkes, Roz Crear, Cora Fossett, Fuller Family, Tyrah Lacy, Sandra Shorter, Charlette Wilburn, Sonja Williams and our loyal membership,” said Mitchell.
“Special thanks to all the politicians that lend their support to the event by donating turkeys, gift certificates, serving or delivering meals like Congressmember Karen Bass, Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Assemblymember Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, Senator Isadore Hall, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Council President Herb Wesson, his wife Fabian Wesson and Councilmember Curren Price,” said Mitchell.
“It has been my honor to support the Mothers In Action Thanksgiving feast for seniors for the past seven years as part of my office’s annual turkey giveaway. I value the partnership that began with the late Brenda Marsh-Mitchell and I am pleased to continue to support such a worthy cause. I’m pleased that we can help meet needs of our most needy seniors. We want to make sure seniors in the area are treated to a warm, and hearty Thanksgiving meal, that they feel special and loved, but most importantly, that they can gather with friends and members of the community on such a special day.”, said Councilmember Curren Price, Jr. of the 9th District.
“We would also like to thank all the individuals, families and groups making Personalized
Thanksgiving Day cards for ever one who receives a meal.”
“While the origin of Thanksgiving Day is not as noble as I was taught, I’ve converted this period into an authentic celebration of THANKS,” said Jackie DuPont-Walker founding president of Ward Economic Development Corporation and member of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority.
“Thanks to God, all the angels sent, and opportunities to serve others at Ward Villas for 20 years. We’ve been a part of a community demonstration of sharing and caring.
“Join us on Thanksgiving Day and be blessed.” Ward Villa is located at 1177 W. Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007.
Monetary Donations and volunteers are needed and welcomed. For more information, email [email protected] or call 323 290-0456. Please make all donations payable to Mothers In Action at 4401 Crenshaw Blvd, Suite 201, Los Angeles, CA 90043 or go to GoFundMe.com/2015Thanksgiving. Meal requests for seniors, sick and shut in residents are being accepted through Friday, December 20, 2015.
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