Today is a day for giving thanks and having a good meal and a few places around Kern County offered free meals to the public. Thanksgiving can be a time to reflect on what you are thankful for and for those offering free Thanksgiving food they wanted to make sure everyone could be thankful to have a meal.
Four places all over Kern County offered a free Thanksgiving meal to anyone who showed up today. Starting with the most important meal of the day…breakfast. The burrito project served breakfast burritos for the ninth year in a row… however this year a small accident involving a car running into the kitchen…making it unusable… left them looking for a new place to cook out of. "Burrito project rain or shine anytime I guess that includes accidents so we will be serving no matter what because we care for our community," said Belinda Lopez Rickett, founder and CEO of Bakersfield Burrito Project.
The Mission at Kern County was happy to serve to anyone looking for a seat at the table. "We meet people of all walks of life, folks that maybe have gone unemployed, maybe folks that may not have somewhere to call home, ya know even folks that stay with us here at the mission on a regular basis. We’re here to help them and serve a great meal and enjoy just the time of being together," said Carlos Baldovinos, the executive director for Mission at Kern County.
And one volunteer there was happy to have the opportunity give back because the Mission helped her in a time of need. "We just need to remember that everybody has the opportunity to come here and be able to be around other people and fellowship and that way you don’t feel so lonely and have other people that are in the same boat," said Yolanda Medina, a volunteer at the Mission.
A couple of churches also opened their doors for anyone looking for a hot meal. "We’re just feeding the people that ya know don’t get together for Thanksgiving in a family setting and we just wanna bless the community," said Cain Maldonado/care pastor for Westside Family Fellowship.
Leaving those who attended thankful for their loved ones…"I’m thankful my mom’s resting in peace and not suffering anymore and I’m thankful I have a husband in my life and my kids," said Tina Martorana, who attended the Blessing Corner Ministries dinner. "I’m thankful for my family, my friends and my good luck that I have every day," said Faith Clark, who attended the Blessing Corner Ministries dinner. "I’m also thankful for family and friends and my brothers and all that…and Jesus," said August Denison, who attended the Blessing Corner Ministries dinner. And thankful for a Thanksgiving meal.
