Boosted by donations and by volunteers embracing the holiday spirit, organizations around Colorado are trying to ensure that those without access to a Thanksgiving meal get a helping of turkey and trimmings Thursday.
At 8 a.m., individuals and families in need of a holiday meal can start lining up outside Denver’s Colorado Convention Center for The Salvation Army’s annual Thanksgiving community meal, said Lt. Col. Dan Starrett, divisional commander for Salvation Army.
The free meal of turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes and more begins at 11:30 a.m., but he said volunteers will hand out coffee, hot chocolate and blankets to those in line.
The Salvation Army expects to serve about 1,100 people.
“If anybody is alone on Thanksgiving or maybe doesn’t have enough money to have a traditional dinner, come down and have dinner with us,” Starrett said. “There’s no reason for anyone to be alone or go hungry.”
Additional resources offering Thanksgiving meals in Denver and around the state:
• Volunteers of America will serve a walk-in dinner from 10 a.m. to noon at 1520 20th St., across from Coors Field.
• Rosa Linda’s Mexican Cafe, 2005 W. 33rd Ave. in Denver, will serve a nontraditional meal of turkey, green chile, rice, beans and more for the 30th straight year from 10 a.m to 3 p.m.
• Senior Support Services, 846 E. 18th Ave. in Denver, will provide meals to homeless and low-income individuals who are 55 and older from 1 to 3 p.m.
• The First Presbyterian Church of Boulder, 1820 15th St., will host a meal from 1 to 3 p.m.
• Associated Veterans of Loveland, 305 N. Cleveland Ave., will offer meals for veterans, their families and anyone in need from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Old Chicago, 1805 Industrial Circle in Longmont, will team up with the Outreach United Resource Center to offer a free turkey meal with trimmings from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. A shuttle will run every 15 minutes between the restaurant and OUR Hospitality Center, 250 Third Ave.
Elizabeth Hernandez: 303-954-1223, ehernandez @denverpost.com or twitter.com/ehernandez
