Thanksgiving Feast 2023 is now history. It was an awe-inspiring day for all those involved. The day was a blessing that we share with all of you who made it possible. We are so grateful for all our guests and all those who served. 

We thank the following sponsors and donors: The Pratt-Schwarzenegger Family for donating 110 turkeys! We thank the Jonathan Club/Santa Monica for baking all these turkeys and providing us with baked yams, gravy, and green beans to serve as well at our dinner. Rick McGeagh and family for their annual donation of 1000 pairs of socks. Shelter Partnership for clothes and toiletries. We thank Patricia and Mike Garcia for providing the chopped onions. Big thank you to Paul Mitchell, California Born and their 20 barbers and hair stylists.  We also thank the Supply Sergeant, La Monarca Bakery, and Giuliano in Gardena and John Putnam for their annual support in our efforts and always helpful discounts!

We thank each of you who donated a can of green beans, cranberry sauce, gravy or coffee; a coat or jacket; toiletry kits, snack packs or women’s health kits. We are grateful to all of you who sponsored a guest and the Feast with your financial donations. Some of you are still wishing to help. You can donate here: https://stmonica.net/serve/locally/thanksgiving

Many parishioners and neighbors donated towards the Feast by participating in the Nourishing Neighbors fund when shopping at Vons/Albertsons/Safeway Stores. Your donations helped to cover the over 800 pies consumed at the Feast and towards the ingredients needed to prepare our side dishes. Remaining funds will be distributed to local households in need. Thanks to the staff and employees of Vons/Albertsons/ Safeway stores and any of you who donated your change or dollars towards the Thanksgiving Feast!

We thank the St. Monica Preparatory School for providing table decorations and donating hundreds of juice boxes, canned green beans, and cranberry sauce. Plus, our students along with our Confirmation Class served at the Feast and helped prepare for the day as well.

We were blessed by the presence of many professionals who helped extend the blessing of the Feast beyond today’s event by providing health services and referrals and information on housing, health, and hunger needs.

• Thanks to the LA Department of Public Health who provided vaccines and to the UCLA Homeless Health Care Collaborative who provided medical services.

• We also thank the following community and social service agency providers:  Safe Place for Youth, Westcoast Care, St. Joseph Center, the Veteran’s Administration, the People Concern, SHARE Collaborative Housing, Department of Public and Social Services, and Harvest Home. We thank Downtown Santa Monica and Donovan Wilkes for helping to coordinate this year’s cadre of resource providers.

Finally, we thank all our volunteers who make St. Monica the amazing community of compassion that she is. So many of you spent hours preparing for the Feast and diligently served throughout Feast Day with no complaint. A special shoutout to our Feast leads, Ryan Barba, Kevin Nazal and Geoconda Hoffman. Thanks to Tom Hite, Stephanie Viganego and our Young Ministering Adults for their work on the Clothing Boutique. Special kudos to our young adults for spearheading efforts in promoting the Feast literally spreading thousands of invitations around the greater Westside and beyond. We know this is why we had so many more people this year. Thank you! Plus, kudos to our friends in the Warehouse especially our leads, Dennis Hardwick, and Teresa Cordeiro, who are still there working on getting everything put away!

Finally, we thank the support provided by all members of our Parish staff, our priests, and pastor, Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson.

Looking forward to next year! The 45th Annual Thanksgiving Feast! Let’s make it happen!