In Los Angeles County, Thanksgiving was not solely a day for feasting with family and friends, but also a time of altruism as volunteers, including famous faces, united to address food insecurity among the critically ill. Project Angel Food volunteers, alongside elected officials and celebrities, prepared and delivered 1,500 Thanksgiving meals to its clients, continuing a compassionate tradition that began in 1989, according to FOXLA. The non-profit organization, which daily feeds 2,500 seriously ill individuals, saw its Thanksgiving initiative flourish even while operating from a temporary location in Lincoln Heights.
Project Angel Food's Executive Chef John Gordon took full advantage of the Thanksgiving volunteer surge by also preparing meals for the following week. "While we have this many volunteers on hand we jump ahead and start packing up meals that we know we're going to have to pack in the next couple of days," Gordon said in a statement obtained by CBS News Los Angeles. The organization's efforts were supported by celebrities who volunteered their time, such as "Weird Al" Yankovic, Mark McGrath, actor Will Sasso, Loni Love, and Mindy Cohn.
The spirit of giving extended beyond meals at Project Angel Food as they also organized a Toy Drive to brighten the holidays for 200 children living with critically ill clients. The drive accepted unwrapped toys, books, games, electronics, and gift cards for older kids, set for delivery before Christmas, as detailed by KTLA.
The Midnight Mission served nearly 2,000 people, closing down Sixth Street in downtown LA to accommodate the feast, while Laugh Factory Hollywood offered both food and laughs, with comedians Tim Allen, Tiffany Haddish, and Craig Robinson expected to serve meals and perform. Reflecting on the importance of not spending the holiday alone, Laugh Factory owner Jamie Masada said, "Spending the Thanksgiving holiday alone is no laughing matter," as mentioned by CBS News Los Angeles.
