Page 51 - December 2017

More than 1,100 enjoy Thanksgiving meal in 024
n BY NICK SWEDBERG
As families across the country sat down for a meal to give thanks last month, Chicago Police Officers and residents of the 24th District gathered together to break bread on Thanksgiving.
At the end of day, more than 1,100 people — some who oth- erwise might not have had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner — were treated to a five-course turkey dinner at Tapas Valencia during the 24th District’s annual community event on Thanks- giving Day.
“Everybody was really happy. It was great to see the kids with the happy faces,” said Mayra Gomez, 24th District Community Organizer.
For the past nine years, the district has partnered with busi- nesses and organizations to feed local families for the holiday. Tapas Valencia, located at 1530 S. State St., donated half the tur- keys, while many other community agencies did their part to help provide a special occasion for families who might not have any place to go for the holiday.
District officers sat down and got to know some of the veter- ans, seniors and youth who came for the free meal, Gomez said. Only about 300 people attended the first dinner nearly a decade ago, according to Gomez, who said organizers expect as many as 1,300 people next year. ALDI will become a partner as a tur- key supplier to help organizers shift some of the hosting burden from the restaurant as the event continues to grow.
No matter the size, the meal always provides an opportunity to bridge the gap between officers and the community.
“We’re able to talk to them more clearly about what’s going on...trying to get their ideas and better the relationship with the community,” Gomez said.
Offering more than just good food, events like the Thanks- giving dinner provide officers a chance to get across the vital message that they are there to help, Gomez said.
“We want to be able to have that line of communication with the residents,” she said. d
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CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ DECEMBER 2017 51