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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2003)
- Community feeds body, soul this holiday season Volunteers will gather to spread Thanksgiving cheer this Thursday at the Whiteaker School By Emma Juhlin Freelance Reporter The 15th-annual free Thanksgiving community din ner at Whiteaker School has been being prepared for months, and it's still not quite done. The event is organized by nonprofit group Whiteaker Community Dinners, and the community comes together every year to make the dinner happen. "Our slogan is neighbors helping neighbors," said Bever ly Farfan, the head organizer of the dinner. "It's run totally by volunteers — I'm a volunteer." A group of 10 people, head ed by Farfan, gets together at the beginning of November to start planning the dinner, which generally serves more than 2,500 people. Different businesses in the community donate to the meal. Some local businesses that donate food are Emerald Fruit and Produce Co. Inc., Organically Grown Co-op, the Korean Presbyter ian Church of Eugene, Lochmead Dairy, Fenton and Lee Confections and Full City Coffee Roasters. Many bakeries also provide rolls. Most of the cooking is done ahead of time by the students of the Culinary Arts Program at Lane Commu nity College. The 210 turkeys needed for the event are provided by the Teamsters Union Local 206 in Springfield, as well as other lo cal unions. The Teamsters Union has been working with the Whiteaker School for eight years, donating manpower and money to the Thanksgiving dinner cause. According to Stephen Ostrach, a local Team sters Union representative, each year the group transports an average of 2,100 pounds of turkeys from Cash and Carry to the Whiteaker School. Ostrach coordinates the Teamsters' in volvement with the dinners each year. "It seemed like a good way to do something for the com munity," he said. Other groups that con tribute to the cost of the turkeys include the Amalga mated Transit Union, the Na tional Association of Letter Carriers, die Carpenters Local 1273, the Eugene Newspaper Guild, and the Lane County labor Council. This year, mon etary contributions totaled $1,638. The monetary donations are not all that keep the Whiteaker School filling hungry stomachs each Thanksgiving. There are about 600 volunteers each year, and most of them are as signed two hour shifts, which, according to Farfan, gives peo ple an opportunity to meet each other and help on an emotional level. "The dinner feeds the body, but we want to feed the heart and soul," Farfan said. Student Chris Gamman vol unteered in 2001 and plans to go again this year. "It's one day of the year of service, and I think maybe as a good community member I should be doing more of that," he said. "I think Eugene is, for a lot of students, a place where you come to school and maybe make contributions to the University, but don't think about the community in which all of us live and work and study." Courtesy Members of the Teamsters Union Local 206 lent a helping hand preparing for last year’s Thanksgiving community dinner at the Whiteaker School Many students who are from out of town and away from their families come to the dinner to volunteer, Far fan said. who have no place to go," Far fan said. "People who have money come. I've had people who are homeless call from pay phones who want to volunteer. * "We have quite a few people who have no place to go." Beverly Farfan Organizer, Whiteaker Thanksgiving dinner People come to the dinner for many reasons, whether it's to volunteer, eat a hot meal or have company during the holidays. "We have quite a few people Throughout the dinner peo ple enjoy live music and chil dren's games and activities. Two nurses from McKenzie Willamette Hospital also at tend the dinner to give flu shots. There is also a room where people can look through clothes, sleeping bags, tents, tarps and other items that people and businesses in the community have donated. "Last year somebody dropped off buckets and buck ets of roses," Farfan said. Accord ing to Farfan, one of the volun teers who was talking to a family saw the roses and gave one to a little girl. The girl said she had never been given a flower be fore Farfan said that is the kind of thing that compels her and the other organizers of the event to get together every year and start planning the next dinner. This year's dinner is Thursday, Nov. 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Whiteaker School, located at 21 N. Grand St. People who need a ride can either call in and be picked up by one of the many volunteer drivers, or they can go to the Whitebird Clinic or St. Vincent DePaul Service Station where a shuttle will come every hour. For more in formation contact Whiteaker Community Dinners at 485 8179 Donations can be dropped off Wednesday, Nov. 26 from noon to 7 p.m. at Win dermere Real Estate at 1610 Oak St and 525 Harlow Rd., or at the dinner. Emma Juhlin is a freelance reporter for the Emerald. AMIGOS continued from page 5C nandal counseling and more "Signing a peace treaty does not solve the problem," said Nieto-Maquehue referring to the aftermath of war crimes. "We try to recreate the feeling of a family for those who no longer have one," said Ruth Fore man, the organization's clinical director. Amigos de los Sobrevivientes is the only or ganization of its kind operating out of a residen tial location. The building is a two-story house where members can do anything from work in the garden to participate in weekly group thera py sessions. Foreman said the intent of such a setting is to allow participants to feel that they are in a community, not an institutional estab lishment. "Everyone here has a voice," Nieto-Maquehue said. "We are very alternatively organized. I may be the 'executive director,' but we make sure that decisions are made by everyone." The organization relies solely on volunteers, many of whom come from the University. Two weeks ago, students gathered in the EMU with Amigos members and helped set up an art gallery for El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead). The holiday honors family mem bers who have passed away in the Hispanic community, an important occasion for Ami gos members who have had no closure for their past. Students come to the program to improve their Spanish, and in doing so end up helping a lot of people according to Nieto Maquehue. "They help us, and we help them," Nieto Maquehue said. 'This is the beauty of reciprocity. ” Athanasios Fkiaras is a freelance reporter for die Emerald. Break yields needed rest Despite the possibility of Thanksgiving away from family, students laud a little free time before final exams By Kyle Harris Freelance Reporter With Thanksgiving just around the comer, some University students are dealing with the stress that comes with knowing that they won't be able to go home for one of the most family oriented holidays of the year. Many out-of-state students find that it is too hard to make it home for a long weekend with the family. Some students say they can't afford it, and others say the turnaround time is just too quick. Staying in the residence halls during Thanks giving can be quite a lonely experience. "The residence halls are pretty empty," said Keisha Janney, a resident assistant in the Bam hart/Riley Complex. "Many residents live close , enough to Eugene to travel home easily." For many freshmen, especially those who dealt with homesickness earlier in the year, the Thanksgiving holiday is a welcome respite — an opportunity to relax and see family before finals. Kim Wilshire, who won't be able to go home for Thanksgiving, isn't looking forward to a long weekend in H.P. Barnhart Hall. "I have no idea what I am going to be doing," she said. "I don't know Eugene at all. I'm pretty sad." Turn to RESPITE, page7C Plan Your Duck Football & Holiday Parties Wit! Eugene's Largest Selection Of Kegs Located Just Minutes From Campus! Pump Rentals, Cups, & Ice Available At Time Of P Call Today To Reserve Your Keg! Convenient Campus Location 1417 Villard — 2 Blocks East Of Campus 541.338.0334 f Emerald Laundromat l ALWAYS CLEAN 165 E. 17th St. (Behind Safeway & Hirons) Open: 7am-llpm daily 1 All front loader machines with 18-50 ib. capacity! Come to the most energy efficient laundromat in Lane County. 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