Food for Thought

By Richard Mineards   |   November 30, 2017
It's a special time with these young people being able to serve and share Thanksgiving dinner and friendships at the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission are Bob Larson, Holly Garcin, Maya Shelly, Talia Shelly, Gary Church, Wilson Geyllig, Olivia Geyling, Robby Williams, Nathen Wong, Trey Pinner, and Rebecca Wilson (photo Priscilla)
Enjoying a fresh-cooked Thanksgiving dinner with desserts and service by Alessia Crickette, diner Richard Ambrosi, and server Jennifer Lessett (photo Priscilla)

Wesley Jones, head of the kitchen at the Rescue Mission, celebrated his first anniversary in the job cooking the annual Thanksgiving Feast for 300 guests, including 960 pounds of turkey, 100 pounds of potatoes, and 80 pounds of stuffing.

“It was nerve-wracking when I did it for the first time last year, but I’m now more confident and have great helpers,” says Wes, who replaced Daniel Osti.

Rolf Geyling, president of the mission, which has an annual budget of more than $2.5 million and helps more than 2,000 people annually, says: “It is a heaping help of love that transforms hearts and lives this Thanksgiving and beyond.”

Former Sopranos actor, Michael Imperioli and his wife, Victoria, volunteered again this year, while I celebrated my 11th year on waiter duty, with my trusty snapperazzi, Priscilla, ditching her Nikon to serve the goodies, including apple and pumpkin pies, along with Boy Scouts from the Santa Barbara troop, realtor Keith Berry, Gerd Jordano, and residents of the Samarkand retirement community.

Santa Barbara Rescue Mission hosts and servers Max Geyling, Gerd Jordano, SBRM president Rolf Geyling, with SBRM chef Wesley Jones (photo Priscilla)
The cooks and servers consist of Eugene Gordillo, Matt Fleming, Albert Padilla, Loren Bird, Brandon Witt, and Sean McCaffrey ready for Thanksgiving tasks (photo Priscilla)
 

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