SAN DIEGO — Thanksgiving arrived early for families living in the south Bay. Casa Familiar, a San Diego-based nonprofit, hosted its annual turkey dinner in San Ysidro Thursday.
Hundreds of people came through the San Ysidro Civic Center to pick up Thanksgiving dinners. The organization also delivered meals to nearby senior living centers.
"Maybe they wouldn't have a proper meal so now they have a nice warm meal. They have something," said Wendy, who has volunteered as a chef for the past eight years.
Casa Familiar has seen a growing need from the community since the pandemic.
"COVID has had a ripple effect that isn't going away anytime soon. For people it's food or rent sometimes," said Lisa Cuestas, CEO of Casa Familiar.
The turkey dinner was a chance to help those in need.
Estela, who manages the youth programs with Casa Familiar, said the event speaks to the organization's core values.
"It's a lot of going back to our values which is family. we treat every person that walks through our door like family and hope to serve them that way and give back to our family which is San Ysidro," she said.
The organization fed more than 700 people and looks forward to continuing the tradition for years to come.
"It's one of the things people remember all the time like, 'Oh Thanksgiving dinner is coming up I need to get my ticket,' We hope we can break bread with them like the usual years next year," Estela said.
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