Mountain Views News          Saturday, November 23, 2013

A3


Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 23, 2013 

WALKING SIERRA MADRE……THE SOCIAL SIDE 
By Deanne Davis

FOOTHILL UNITY CENTER, COMMUNITY TO 
SHARE THANKSGIVING BOUNTY WITH LOCAL 
FAMILIES IN NEED

 
Foothill Unity Center is gearing up for its annual Thanksgiving food distribution in partnership with 
its eleven-city community. The distribution for families will be held on Monday, November 25, at 
Ayers Hall at the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia. A second distribution for individuals 
will be held Tuesday, November 26, at the Center’s Monrovia and Pasadena locations.

The difficult economy and cuts in the CalFresh food stamp program are swelling the ranks of local 
people who need help to feed their families, says Center Executive Director Betty McWilliams. “Last 
year, we served more than 1,336 pre-registered families,” she notes. “As economic conditions remain 
difficult, the need for our weekly food assistance has grown. The community’s support is more vital 
than ever.” 77% of the Center’s clients are at or below the National Poverty Level.

The Center is seeking donations of food, funds and volunteer time for the Thanksgiving event and 
its upcoming Holiday Distribution in December. Funds may be donated securely online at foothillunitycenter.
org. Food and checks may be dropped off weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at either Center 
location: 415 W. Chestnut Ave. in Monrovia or 191 N. Oak Ave. in Pasadena.

Information on Thanksgiving and Holiday volunteer shifts, most-needed food items and the annual 
Angel program for children’s gift donations is available at foothillunitycenter.org/thanksgiving-and-
holiday-distribution-programs or by calling the Center at (626) 358-3486. Photos of last year’s distributions 
can be viewed in the online Photo Gallery.

Only one part of a bigger effort

The Thanksgiving Distribution is just one aspect of the Center’s year-round Family Food Program, 
which provided over 3.6 million pounds of groceries to food-insecure clients last year. Each month, 
clients receive a grocery cart of food items, sized by number of people in the family to supplement 
needs for 7-10 days. They may return to pick up perishable food items once a week, including fresh 
produce, dairy and baked goods. The Center also delivers monthly food packages to qualified homebound 
senior and disabled clients, and gives 50 to 60 substantial bag lunches (enough for about two 
days) three times a week to homeless or those who have no place to store or cook food. Its volunteer-
run Pet Food Bank helped 726 families keep their pets last year.

The Center also provides referrals to over 100 organizations for crisis and housing assistance, employment 
counseling, and much more. Its Health Services Child Health Connection program connects 
children with urgent health care needs to free and low-cost care, helps uninsured clients enroll for 
low-cost insurance coverage, and conducts health screenings and education seminars. It also operates 
a Medical Outreach Clinic in partnership with the Community Health Alliance of Pasadena (ChapCare) 
providing health and dental care to homeless and uninsured adult clients.

Not a lot of walking Sierra Madre going on this week, even though this is one of the most beautiful 
Fall seasons I can remember. The weather’s been delightful, the leaves are certainly doing their Fall 
job, falling everywhere, and I expect we’re all doing something about Thanksgiving. Brining our 
turkey (best thing ever for a moist and tender Festive Bird!), making a pie, being in charge of the 
sweet potatoes. I’m wondering if any of you folks have ever had the following experience…

THE GHOST OF THANKSGIVINGS PAST

The Festive Bird is in the stove,

And time now for a nap.

I laid me down, closed my eyes,

And on the window heard a tap.

It’s far too soon for guests to come,

I need a little peace!

The stuffing’s ready, cranberries chillin’,

Pies overflow with pumpkin fillin’.

The tap just keeps on at my window,

But I’m not gonna look!

There’s nothing more for me to do,

This is one tired and sleepy cook.

So I snuggled deep down in my afghan,

Turned my head the other way.

I don’t care who’s at that window,

They can tap all day.

Off I went to slumberland and dreamed a lovely dream,

Of a kitchen, clean and washed and spotless, everything so bright.

But then I dreamt a dreadful dream,

That made me scream with fright!

The tapping at my window,

More insistent grew.

And what was out there tapping,

I’ll try to describe to you.

The Ghost of my Thanksgivings Past,

A turkey that was huge!

Tapped an enormous beak at my window,

And gobbled…. “J’ accuse!”

“Forty Thanksgivings, and more,” he said,

“Since you walked down the aisle.

Forty turkeys you’ve served up, 

With sweet potatoes and a smile.”

“Forty turkeys come and gone,

And still your gravy’s awful!

And the year the turkey hit the floor,

Should be declared… unlawful!!”

“Most of them were nicely done, I’ll give you that,” he said.

“But some were cooked so badly,

You should have ordered Chinese instead!”

What an awful dream, I thought, as I cowered in my bed.

The Ghostly Turkey wasn’t finished,

With his accusations many.

And I, offering excuses,

Discovered I hadn’t any!

But then he smiled and said to me,

“Your crimes are all forgiven.

For those who’ve gathered at your table,

Have rejoiced and laughed for hours.”

“We turkeys relish meals like these,

They are as sweet as summer flowers!

Enjoy today, with friends and family, gathered ‘round your table,

Give thanks for health and joy and peace…

Then share this Thanksgiving fable.”

Then with a last gobble…gobble, the Ghost of Thanksgivings Past,

Flew up and away…

And I heard him exclaim, ere he flew out of sight…

“Happy Thanksgiving to all…

And for heaven’s sake, learn to make better gravy!”

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Hope it’s the best one ever!


FRIENDS OF THE SIERRA MADRE LIBRARY SILENT 
AUCTION

If you’re a bibliophile or have one on your holiday gift list, you won’t want to miss bidding on the 
exceptional books featured in the Silent Auction being held in the Sierra Madre Public Library, 440 
W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre from Friday, November 1, 2013 through Monday, November 
25, 2013 during library hours. The books will be on display in the display case in the library’s main 
room. To inspect the books more closely, visit the library every Saturday in November from 1-2 PM. 

Amongst the treasures bring offered, we have a signed copy of The Hunt for Red October written by 
the late Tom Clancy, two six-volume sets of novels by Anthony Trollope, and a twenty-one volume 
set of Oxford Illustrated Dickens. A reprint of the children’s classic Little Black Sambo includes the 
original story and some charming illustrations by the artist Eulalie. Reminiscent of some of the 
Grimm fairy tales from Germany, the two stories in the reprint of Little Mook and Dwarf Longnose 
by Wilhelm Hauff are filled with an assortment of dwarves, evil witches and devious princes and 
include colorful, gemlike paintings of Russian artist Boris Pak. Written by Walter Isaacson who wrote 
the 2011 best-selling Steve Jobs, the very clever and attractive book, Einstein-The Life of a Genius 
is arranged according to events in the life of Albert Einstein and includes many fold-outs, event 
wheels and envelopes which contain little-known details of those times. These and other treasures 
are available during this latest Friends of the Sierra Madre Library Silent Auction.

Bidding sheets and rules will be available in a notebook located on the library’s checkout counter. Each 
of the books for sale at the auction will be numbered and will have a corresponding numbered bid 
sheet in the notebook. Bidders are asked to write their bid amounts and a contact telephone number 
on the appropriate bid sheet. Bidding will close promptly at 8 PM on November 25. Winning bidders 
will be notified by telephone the next day and will then be able to pick up their books at the library.

Proceeds from the Silent Auction will benefit the Sierra Madre Library’s programs, services, and 
acquisitions. For more information, visit our website at www.sierramadrelibraryfriends.org.