Pacific Towing delivers turkeys to local non-profits ahead of Thanksgiving

EUREKA, Calif. — On Friday, Pacific Towing delivered dozens of turkeys to local organizations serving people in need, including the Saint Vincent de Paul Dining Facility in Eureka and the Eureka Rescue Mission.

Those two organizations each plan to use the turkeys, along with other Thanksgiving foods, to provide a meal service on Thanksgiving for people who wouldn't have a Thanksgiving feast otherwise.

"Every year [Pacific Towing has] been bringing turkeys to us. It's just amazing to see the community support that we get for the for the clients that we serve," Eureka Rescue Mission Executive Director Bryan Hall Sr. said.

For 20 years, Pacific Towing has delivered turkeys around Thanksgiving to various non-profits serving Eureka residents in need.

"Most of them wouldn't have a dinner for Thanksgiving if it wasn't for a place like this," Saint Vincent de Paul Dining Facility Cook Mary Lee Price said.

For both Saint Vincent de Paul's and the Eureka Rescue Mission, putting on an event of this scale takes multiple days and a lot of people to pull off.

"Sunday, we start cooking the turkeys, and then we let them cool down, and then on Tuesday is when we break them apart. We do 30 turkeys for the feed and roughly 40 pounds of stuffing, two cases of green beans, mashed potatoes -- probably about 50, 60 pounds of mashed potatoes, 15 pounds of gravy and that's about it," Eureka Rescue Mission Kitchen Manager Matthew Beauchamp said.

According to Beauchamp, the Eureka Rescue Mission was able to provide 200 meals last Thanksgiving.

In addition to food donations, Saint Vincent de Paul's is also asking for canned goods, black nitrile gloves, volunteers and drop-off winter wear donations.

"We're trying to pass a blanket out to everybody on Thanksgiving because we all have something to be thankful for," Price said. "We're thankful that we don't need a blanket, so they're thankful for getting a blanket."

Donations can be dropped off at the Saint Vincent de Paul Dining Facility at 35 W. Third Street in Eureka.

The following is a list from Saint Vincent de Paul's of the specific items they are seeking and how else people can assist:

• St. Vincent de Paul Dining Facility will host a Thanksgiving Holiday Meal on Thursday, November 24, 2022.
• Food Donations – Turkey, Ham, Yams / Sweet Potatoes, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Bread Stuffing, Broccoli, Fruit Pies, Whip Cream
• Canned Goods (large #10 size if possible) – Green Beans, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Crispy Fried Onions, Cheese Sauce, Cranberry Sauce
• Black Nitrile Gloves – sizes M, L, and XL (sold at US Chef’s Store and Harbor Freight)
• Volunteers are needed for the following:
• Food Prep: NOV 22-23, 12:00 – 4:00 PM

Thanksgiving Day:

• Serving Table Set-Up & Kitchen Help: 8:30 – 10:45 AM
• Meal Service & Kitchen Help: 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
• Clean-Up: 1:30 – 3:30 PM
• Drop-Off Winter Wear Donations – Wool Blankets, Gloves, Snowcaps, Heavy-Duty Socks, Winter Coats, Back-Packs, Ponchos / Raincoats
• Please contact Mary or Steven at 707-445-9588
• SVDP Dining Facility - 35 W. Third Street, Eureka 95501