Mayor Takes Charge of “Operation Gobble Gobble”

Thankful for a crisp, clear morning rather than last year’s rain, Mayor Bill Bogaard and 40 volunteers distributed 400 Thanksgiving turkeys with all the trimmings donated by Ralphs and Food 4 Less to local community agencies who serve low-income households at the 11th annual “Operation Gobble Gobble” in front of City Hall on Saturday.

Over 11 years “Operation Gobble Gobble” has made it possible for 44,000 Pasadenans to celebrate Thanksgiving with a full traditional meal. The 400 Thanksgiving meals given to 38 agencies in the city were complete with Pumpkin Pie, mashed potatoes, stuffing gravy, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce and of course turkey.

“I love the lesson that this event is to the world at large, that Pasadena is a generous and a compassionate city and worries about those who are disadvantaged,” Mayor Bill Bogaard said.

Among the organizations who will distribute the turkeys they received to families in need are Pasadena Unified School District’s Healthy Start program; Union Station Foundation; Armenian Relief Society; Ronald McDonald House; Mothers’ Club Family Learning Center; Lutheran Social Services; Vista Nova Home for the Blind; El Centro de Acción Social and Elizabeth House.

Bogaard was joined by volunteers from the Youth Council including the Unidos club from Marshall High School, students from the Ambassador Program, Pasadena firefighters who have volunteered since the beginning, Ralphs and Food 4 Less team members, and other community volunteers including Angie O’Brien.

O’Brien is the longest standing volunteer of “Operation Gobble Gobble.” She said she was absolutely thankful for the abundance of volunteers, remembering the previous year in the pelting rain with only eight people to manage the same amount of turkeys.

Kayleen Maya-Aviles began the program with the Mayor 11 years ago because she saw a need for families in the city who may not be able to afford a Thanksgiving meal, but also would not attend the Thanksgiving meal hosted in Central Park by Union Station. She and the Mayor purchased turkeys on their own the first year.

“Every year since Ralphs has been on board, and its been a wonderful partnership,” Maya-Aviles said.

When she hangs up her “Gobble Gobble” shoes, Maya-Aviles hopes her son who was “in her belly” the first year will continue the tradition.

“We are able to offer full traditional thanksgiving. The City knows the need of their community. Ralph’s partners with elected officials all over the country to make donations like today happen, but especially in Los Angeles where the need is so great,” Ralph’s and Food 4 Less Representative Tania Maya said.

Last year, Ralphs contributed more than $6 million to support education, hunger relief, women’s health and local nonprofit organizations in the communities served by the company’s stores.

For more information about the City of Pasadena, go online to www.cityofpasadena.net or follow them on Twitter @PasadenaGov. Contact Rhonda Stone with inquiries about “Operation Gobble Gobble” at rstone@cityofpasadena.net.

Ralphs and Food 4 Less are a subsidiary of The Kroger Co., (NYSE:KR), one of the nation’s largest grocery retailers, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information about Ralphs visit www.ralphs.com and for Food 4 Less, visit www.food4less.com.