Homeless give thanks for meal

On Thanksgiving, it's easy to be thankful, even if you're homeless.

Some 2,400 of Salt Lake City's poor, needy and destitute were treated Thursday to a choice feast courtesy of the city's downtown Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Community Thanksgiving dinners were also hosted at other area locations, including the Park City Community Thanksgiving Dinner by the Park City Interfaith Council.

This year at the Greek Orthodox Church, the meal even included some traditional Greek treats, such as spinach triangles and other pastries, sitting alongside all the turkey, stuffing, potatoes, yams, gravy and rolls.

And after the food, feasters could stroll through several tables of new and used clothes and shoes and take their pick for no charge. Finally, the church provided gift sacks full of socks, gloves, hats, candy and toiletries.

For Dave Underwood, one of Salt Lake's homeless, the meal and amenities were welcome — but hold the Greek delicacies.

"It was great, really. The turkey, the mashed potatoes. But I have ulcers, so I have to watch the spicy stuff," Underwood said. "You won't go hungry around here."

Despite his homeless status, Underwood and his buddy David Moore can give thanks.

"A meal and some decent clothes, including shoes," Underwood offered when asked to list what he's thankful for.

Added Moore: "My life, breathing, walking. For the food."

Inside the church's Hellenic Cultural Center, the hungry found a seat and were waited on hand and foot by a team of volunteers. In the kitchen, another mass of volunteers cooked the grub. There were even hostesses showing people to their seats.

Besides those breaking bread inside, the church boxed more than 1,000 dinners for the homebound. Family members picked up the meals for loved ones or the church delivered to people in their homes.

Tom Woody has spent the past 12 years of his life helping to coordinate the annual Thanksgiving feast.

"Not all that come here are homeless," he said. "Some are people that don't have family and want to come be with others."

As for Woody, he started volunteering "just to get away from the fighting with my family."

Some of the food was donated by local restaurants, but most of the edibles were bought with proceeds from the church's annual Greek Festival in September.

---

E-MAIL: bsnyder@desnews.com