Hundreds Of East Valley Families Line Up For Free Thanksgiving Trimmings

COACHELLA – Hundreds of families lined up at the Jordan Christian Academy to get their hands on free Thanksgiving meals.

“Last Thursday, we didn’t have one turkey in our freezer. And we needed 600-800,” says Pastor Joe Jordan, of Jordan Christian Ministries. “All of a sudden, five days later, we have over 1,100 turkeys and all the trimmings to go with it!”

Lots of volunteers helped bag the goods, including a Girl Scout Brownie troop from Gerald Ford Elementary School. Some of them didn’t realize how much work it actually required.

“You have to pack up all this food. You have totie it, and take it out, and pack thousands of bags of food,” says Alexandra Braunschweiger, 8.

This is the ministry’s sixth year feeding the poor on Thanksgiving — a holiday that focuses on families.

Adalia Martinez, of Indio,is one of those families. She plans to cook for twentypeople on Thursday.

“Ilove it because my turkeys come out very moist!”

Other than Thanksgiving, the ministry is giving away more and more food each year. Three years ago, it gave away about $300,000 worth of food. Last year, it wasapproximately $2.5 million.

This year, the church expects to give away over $3 million worth of food.

Pastor Jordan says it is important to keep the family together, especially during these tough times. The next giveaway occurs December 19 — just in time for Christmas.

For many, like8 year old Luke Lombardelli, giving is the greatest gift.

“Yeah, it’s just really nice to help the need. I feel really great.”