Rotary kicks off season of giving
By Angela Randazzo Special to the Acorn

FILE PHOTO

Turkey Ray, as he's known to his fellow Rotarians this time of year, is beginning to fluff out his feathers.

It's almost Thanksgiving again and local businessman Ray Meyerson has started preparations for the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise's annual all-the-fixings feast, a tradition that spans 17 years.

"We put up one heck of a dinner and we've been able to polish it up year after year," said Meyerson, who's chaired the event for the last four years, earning himself the fowl nickname.

This year's dinner, which is offered free to low-income seniors and the homeless, will be held on Thanksgiving Eve, Nov. 21, at the Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi. The Council of the Aging also sponsors the event.

"We have a number of sponsorships mostly from our own Rotarians. One of our members, (Steve Reder) owner of Maverick's restaurant, cooks the turkeys there. And we get a good turnout of volunteers to help with the dinner."

Some 50 Rotarians volunteered to serve dinner at three different seatings: 5, 6 and 7 p.m. Volunteers expect more than 500 people to attend.

The dinner includes turkey and all the trimmings from stuffing to cranberry sauce to more than 50 pies including the popular pumpkin, cherry, apple and pecan.

BrandeisBrandon Institute contributes the beverages and 30 Boy Scouts from two troops volunteer for clean-up duty. The Simi Valley High School String Orchestra will provide the entertainment.

"We also feed our volunteers and our entertainment. We feed everybody; sometimes we have to put the overflow on the patio," Meyerson said.

The Sunrise Rotarians donate the leftovers- if there are any- to the Samaritan Center.

"It's a tough day and tough thing but you feel good the weekend after," Meyerson said. "We get a lot of help and we try to have a good time in addition to doing the work. What better time than Thanksgiving, right?"

And the Rotarians aren't the only ones with all the Simi Valley holiday goodwill.

On Thanksgiving morning, Tico's Tacos, a Mexican restaurant at 1675 Los Angeles Ave., will serve a steak and egg breakfast to the homeless. Owner Jose Fledes carries on the tradition he started 10 years ago.

It's a family affair with Fledes' wife, adult children and extended family members volunteering to cook and serve the food.

"I feel good doing something for the homeless. My wife and my kids feel the same way," Fledes said.

At Christmas, Fledes also puts on a breakfast for people in need. The family gives out presents as well such as shoes or backpacks.

Simi Presbyterian Church will offer a Thanksgiving afternoon turkey dinner with all the accompaniments at the Samaritan Center. "The dinner isn't limited to the homeless, it's low income. We expect about 40 to 50 people that will include children," said Gregory Seymour, program coordinator at the center.

Along with several other local houses of worship, Simi Prez volunteers year 'round to provide dinners at the center.

In the church rotation, Simi Prez's night is the fourth Thursday of the month so they often provide the Thanksgiving meal, said Dorissa Mitchell, outreach volunteer who coordinates the dinners for the church.

Thirty to 40 church volunteers will serve dinner at the center. Some volunteers bring their children as well.

"People have the mind set it's the time of giving. They're excited and motivated." Mitchell said. "It's a great hands-on experience to help the needy in the community."