Get a Free Meal—Or Help Serve One—for Thanksgiving

Capitola and Soquel residents who want to eat a free community Thanksgiving meal—or volunteer to help—will have to travel to Santa Cruz or Watsonville.

The largest effort on the holiday itself will be by , a community-based coalition with ties to the nonprofit, faith-based and civic sectors. It will host a traditional, free Thanksgiving dinner at the , 307 Church St., Santa Cruz, from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday.

"We will gather not as the homeless or the housed, not as the rich or the poor, not as the old or the young," Santa Cruz activist Steve Pleich said, "but rather as friends and neighbors who will come together and give of themselves to turn a time of want and need into a celebration of joy and generosity.

Last year, more than 1,000 meals were served, and a similar number is expected this year.  

Organizers, who hope to raise $5,000, still seek donations and volunteers. For information, call Steve Pleich at 831-334-8692 or email friendsofthanksgiving@gmail.com. You can donate online at scshelter.org/.

The California Grey Bears will have its 38th annual Holiday Dinner on Dec. 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 pm., also at the Civic Auditorium.

The Grey Bears anticipate more than 1,000 seniors, 55 and older, for the dinner, which includes pies from Gizdich Bakery and local entertainment, such as the Great Morgani accordionist, Mele O Ke Kupuna ukulele group and Young Stars from Elaine’s Dance Studio.     

For medically homebound seniors not able to attend, Grey Bears will prepare a home-delivered meal and bag of groceries for a holiday dinner.

The community can help support the dinner by making a tax-deductible contribution or volunteering. Checks can be mailed to Grey Bears, 2710 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz 95064, or you can donate with a credit card at greybears.org/support. Volunteers are needed to decorate, greet, serve and clean up. To volunteer, call 831-479-1055 or email info@greybears.org.

Other free Thanksgiving meals will be South County.

• For the third year,  at on Main Street, Watsonville.

"It's a gathering," co-owner Peggy Triplitt said. "You don't have to be down-and-out. We'd like to invite the whole community to come out."

• The meal at  starts at noon. It's open to anyone at Watsonville’s food pantry, 50 Second St.

•  in Watsonville .

• , a new Pajaro restaurant, will welcome people for dinner from 1-4 p.m. It's at 7 San Juan Rd. in Pajaro.