Wonderful turnout of volunteers to provide 147 people a sit-down Thanksgiving meal and 100 packed to-go meals on November 18th at Eastlake Park Gym. This was a collaborative effort of We Three Women of Excellence, The Buffalo Troopers Motorcycle Club of Phoenix, Eastlake Park Community Center, and the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department with funding and support from Trellis volunteer Community Leadership Team (CLI).
Trellis was awarded a grant to send four Garfield residents and two Trellis staff members to an in-person training to learn how to help organize and support community leaders and resident-led approaches to make positive change in their neighborhoods and communities. Live African Drum and Dance were performed by Kawambe-Omowale who host weekly Drum and Dance classes at Eastlake Park Community Center. Volunteers greeted guests to sit down where they were served right upon seating.
The CLI team received a $4,000 grant for a community event and chose to help support this Thanksgiving event. They are already talking about how to do even more next year. Residents from local senior, veteran, affordable housing communities and unhoused and housed neighbors came by for a warm meal. They had all the fixings: turkey, brisket, mashed potatoes, yams, green beans and dessert. The meals were prepared by a local hotel who donated their staff’s time and kitchen.