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!

Each year on Thanksgiving Eve, St. Monica Catholic Community hosts a free Thanksgiving meal for the greater community. We continue this tradition for our 44th year by inviting guests to a Thanksgiving Feast in person at St. Monica for a warm sit-down thanksgiving meal and afterwards they will receive a package of new clothing and toiletry items for the winter months ahead. Last year we were able to serve over 700 guests, provide home bound meals to those that could not attend and were able to administer vaccines to those that needed them.

FOR OUR GUESTS - Join us on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023

For the 44th Annual Thanksgiving Feast from 1pm to 4pm at St. Monica Catholic Community. A warm Thanksgiving meal will be served outside at tables. Following their meal guests will be escorted to a clothing boutique where they can choose new items such as: sleeping bags, thermals, new clothing, toiletry items and more. And finally, guests will have the opportunity to receive homeless prevention and assistance services, low-income assistance, medical assistance, and other housing related resources!

Guests may begin to line up at 11:30am on Weds Nov. 22nd. The line will begin at the church gates off Washington Avenue and will extend in the direction of 7th Street towards California Avenue. All packages and pets are left at Baggage Claim and returned to guests on their departure. We will not be distributing tickets ahead of time. Toilet facilities will be accessible to guests and bottled water will be provided.

For the safety of our guests and volunteers we will continue to follow any health regulations mandated by the county and city. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available.

If you wish to receive a Homebound Delivery please contact Layla

- Please call (310) 566-1543 or Email to 

FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS & DONORS - HOW YOU CAN HELP

This great tradition at St. Monica brings together every grade in our schools, every ministry in the parish, neighbors, restaurant and hotel kitchens, and hundreds of volunteers to feed and clothe hundreds of men and women who need an extra lift for the holidays.

As a community we feel strongly that everyone should be able to enjoy this holiday. Partaking in our feast at St. Monica may be their only opportunity to sit down at a holiday meal or opportunity to pick up new clothing items that will protect them from the elements this winter season. To prepare for our guests, we welcome donations, volunteers, and especially your prayers!

VOLUNTEER SIGN-UPS

Volunteer Sign Ups are now closed

SPONSOR A GUEST

Give the gift of Thanksgiving! It takes $50 to sponsor each guest. Your donation will help provide a warm sit-down Thanksgiving feast and supply necessary winter items such as sleeping bags, thermals, beanies and more.

For checks, make payable to St. Monica Catholic Church and write Attn: Thanksgiving Feast. Checks can be dropped them off at the Parish Office or mailed to St. Monica Catholic Church, 725 California Avenue, Santa Monica, 90403.

DONATE NON-PERSISHABLE ITEMS:

Canned cranberry sauce, canned green beans, canned gravy, coffee & juice boxes

MAKE TOILETRY KITS:

Fill a gallon-sized plastic bag w/ 1 new travel-size item of:

• Hand Sanitizer
• Toothbrush
• Tube of Toothpaste
• Mouthwash (nonalcoholic)
• Body Lotion
• Pack of Tissues
• Pack of Wet Wipes
• Lip Balm
• Body wash or bar of soap
• 2-in-1 shampoo & conditioner
• 5-10 or pack of cotton swabs
• 5-10 or pack of bandages

MAKE SNACK PACKS

• Canned Stews with pull tab cans
• Peanut butter
• Bottled water
• Cereal bars
• Gum or mints
• Cracker packs
• Fruit snacks
• Apple Sauce
• Pudding cups
• Trail mix
• Pretzels
• Beef jerky

MAKE WOMEN'S HEALTH KITS

• 5 regular flow tampons
• 5 heavy flow tampons
• 10 pads
• New underwear
• A hot pad
• Hand sanitizer
• Disposable wipes
• Biodegradable disposable bag

       **Pls do not include any other items not on this list. Do not include razors/blades, safety pins, tweezers, money etc.

CLOTHING:

NEW We are collecting gently used and new winter coats & jackets. Please note that we will NOT be accepting donations of other clothing items this year.

You can drop these items off after all masses through Nov. 19 in the Grand Patio or Parish Office.