For over 30 years, Tenderloin Tessie Holiday Dinners, an all-volunteer organization, has fed the elderly, disabled, low-income families, the homeless, and anyone who doesn’t have a place to go for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. They went to the San Francisco Food Bank recently to start shopping for their Thanksgiving meal, which will be held at the First Unitarian Church on the corner of Franklin and Geary Streets.
     
Unfortunately, the hotel where they cooked their turkeys in the past has closed, so they are looking for another large kitchen to help them out. They also need donations of food and cash. “We give these people a really nice, sit-down meal where we serve them with white tablecloths and treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve,” says longtime volunteer Steve Russell.
     
Tenderloin Tessie is also looking for volunteers to help prepare and serve the meals. If you would like to volunteer or make a donation, please visit www.tenderlointessie.com or call Michael Gagne at 415-584-3252.
                 
The San Francisco Food Bank is the backbone of many organizations – over 400 agencies come to their warehouse. Neighborhood pantries serve the community. This year there is more need than ever, especially for protein items such as stews, canned tuna, and turkeys and hams for the holidays (there is a green collection barrel at The Real Food Company, 3060 Fillmore Street at Filbert). The Food Bank also needs cash donations – 60 percent of their annual fundraising occurs between September 1 and December 31. For more information, www.sffoodbank.org or call 415-282-1900.