SAN FRANCISCO – Come home to Glide for the holidays and help those less fortunate by giving what you can of your time and resources during Glide’s numerous holiday celebrations and events. From preparing and serving Glide’s famous Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to passing out toys and grocery bags to needy families, Glide has many ways for hundreds of volunteers and donors to spread the comfort of home to those who need it the most this holiday season.
“During these difficult times, community is more important that ever, said Reverend Cecil Williams, Glide’s Minister of Liberation. “No matter what our situations are like at home, we are all lifted up when we help families and individuals in need.”
Volunteer sign-ups for Thanksgiving and Christmas events began on November 1 at www.glide.org. Sign up early to guarantee a spot. Monetary donations this time of year are especially welcome and can also be processed online. Additionally, Glide needs donations of new, unwrapped toys and nonperishable foods.
Glide's 2008 Holiday Events
November 26 – Thanksgiving Dessert Prep (10am to 1pm)
As part of Macy’s Million Meals Donation, Macy’s Culinary Council Chef Andrea Robinson will help to prepare her signature recipe, Pumpkin Spice Cake for the 5,000 people who will be eating Thanksgiving Dinner at Glide.
November 26 – Thanksgiving Dinner Prep (5:30 – 6:30pm)
Hundreds of volunteers are needed to prepare 1,200 turkeys and all the fixings for Glide’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner. Volunteers are needed to chop, dice, mix and slice to prepare thousands of holiday meals.
November 27 – Thanksgiving Dinner and Celebration
10am – Celebration
9am – 2pm Thanksgiving Dinner
Kick off the season of sharing as a volunteer at Glide’s annual Thanksgiving Day dinner and share your gratitude with hundreds of others at Glide’s rollicking annual Thanksgiving Day celebratory service. Each year, Glide serves a full Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings to more than 5,000 people, including 500 families.
December 2 – Seniors’ Holiday Social (11am to 2pm)
Family members and special community guests are invited to join this private festive party featuring a traditional turkey dinner, raffle, door prizes, deejay and dancing. Glide’s Senior program promotes community involvement and encourages seniors to serve as volunteers or mentors at Glide and the community at large.
December 15 – Old Navy Kids Shopping Spree (9:00 – 10:00 a.m. at Old Navy, 801 Market Street at 4th)
The season will kick off when Old Navy opens its doors at 9:00 a.m. for a private shopping spree for more than 200 kids from Glide's Family Services programs, ages 4 – 12. Thanks to generous underwriting by Gap Inc., each child will receive gift cards valued at $100 and will have the store to themselves, along with 150 Gap Inc. volunteer “personal shoppers.” (Media, please note: This is a private event for children from Glide’s Family Services Programs and is not open to the general public).
December 15 – Asian Fusion Lunch (11:30am – 1:30pm)
Sponsored by the Asian Chef Foundation through its Chefs Without
Borders program. San Francisco’s Asian chefs will prepare 2,000 gourmet
Asian fusion turkey meals to serve to poor and homeless guests at Glide.
December 16 -- Grocery Bag Giveaway (7:30am – 12:30pm)
Glide gives away 6,000 bags full of groceries to families each year. Hundreds of volunteers, including approximately 300 Gap Inc. employees and associates from Macy’s will help fill the bags and distribute them to those in need.
Each bag contains fresh poultry (turkey or chicken), potatoes, bread, pasta, pasta sauce, rice, beans, and vegetables
December 18 – Glide’s Annual Holiday Festival “Celebrate Home”
featuring Senator Dianne Feinstein –
(6pm – 10pm at the Hilton San Francisco)
This year’s annual benefit for Mo’s Kitchen and programs of the Glide Foundation will “Celebrate Home” and include featured speaker United States Senator Dianne Feinstein and other special guests.
December 22 – Toy Giveaway (10 – 11am)
Help every kid get a great toy for the holidays. Associates from Macy’s and other volunteers will help hand out toys to the boys and girls. Donate money or unwrapped new toys to Glide at 330 Ellis Street (at Taylor).
December 24 – Prime Rib Luncheon (11am - 2pm)
Sponsored each year by San Francisco’s House of Prime Rib, Glide’s special mouthwatering Christmas Eve luncheon serves 3,000.
December 24 – Christmas Dinner Prep (5:00pm to 7:00pm)
Volunteers are needed to chop, dice, mix and slice to prepare thousands of Christmas dinners for the poor and homeless.
December 25 – Christmas Celebrations and Dinner
Celebrations at 9am and 11am
Dinner – 9am to 2pm
Come celebrate Christmas at Glide’s lively annual celebration, followed by dinner for hundreds of homeless and needy families and individuals.
Volunteer Opportunities at Glide
There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities available for these events and for meal service throughout the year. To sign up, please visit Glide's website at www.glide.org and click on "volunteer now." For questions, please call the Glide volunteer office at (415) 674-6080.
Request for Donations
Glide is also making an appeal for donations of money, new and unwrapped toys, and food--especially turkeys and canned goods. To donate money, please send your check to Glide Foundation, 330 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, or donate through Glide’s website at www.glide.org. Please drop off all food and toy donations at Glide’s main entrance, 330 Ellis Street.
About Glide
Located at Ellis and Taylor in the Tenderloin, one of San Francisco's harshest urban environments, Glide Foundation is an oasis that has served the poor and disenfranchised for over 40 years. From serving nearly one million meals a year, to holiday programs helping over 80,000, to operating a professional medical clinic, to youth job training, to offering weekly spiritual celebrations at Glide Church, and much more – Glide touches the lives of many people. Glide has helped thousands of disenfranchised and poor people get back on their feet and find their way to jobs, housing and spiritual fulfillment.
For more information about Glide, please call (415) 674-6000 or visit www.glide.org.
CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:
CONTACT:
Denise Lamott Public Relations
(415) 381-8793
Denise@DeniseLamottPR.com
COME HOME TO GLIDE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Volunteers, Donations and Toys Needed for
Glide’s Holiday Season of Celebrations and Events
WHAT:
Glide Memorial United Methodist Church's 2008 holiday events
WHERE:
All events take place at Glide unless otherwise noted
Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, 330 Ellis Street, San Francisco
WHEN:
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November 26: Thanksgiving Dessert Prep (10am to 1pm)
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November 26: Thanksgiving dinner preparation (5:30 – 6:30pm
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November 27: Thanksgiving Day Celebration (10am) and meals (9 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
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December 2 – Seniors’ Holiday Social (11am to 2pm)
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December 15 – Old Navy Kids Shopping Spree (9:00 – 10:00 a.m. at Old Navy, 801 Market Street at 4th)
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December 15 – Asian Fusion Lunch and Dinner (11:30am to 1:30pm) December 16 -- Grocery Bag Giveaway (7:30am – 12:30pm)
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December 18 – “Celebrate Home” Glide’s Annual Holiday Festival featuring Senator Dianne Feinstein– the annual benefit for Mo’s Kitchen and the Glide Foundation (6pm – 10pm at the Hilton San Francisco, 333 O'Farrell Street)
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December 22 – Toy Giveaway (10 – 11am)
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December 24 – Prime Rib Luncheon (11am - 2pm)
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December 24 – Christmas Dinner prep (5 – 7pm)
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December 25 – Christmas Celebrations (9am and 11am) and Dinner (9am to 2pm)
FOR MORE INFO: Call (415) 674-6000 or visit www.Glide.org
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