Food baskets handed out today, hot to-go Thanksgiving meal give-away planned for seniors Wednesday

EUREKA, Calif. (KIEM)-A local non-profit was busy today putting together food baskets to be handed out in lieu of a sit-down meal.

With the uptick in COVID-19 cases, organizations that feed and shelter the most vulnerable population have had to take extra precautions.

Betty Kwan Chinn is the founder of the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation.

“We cannot have twenty people come in at one time, our center is too tiny and too small, so we ask the city if (we) can get the permission to do it in here (Eureka Municipal Auditorium)  and the county approved,” she said.  “Well, I just thank you, everybody support this project, and I really think we are lucky we’re still able to do it. This is a tradition, I don’t want to stop because of COVID-19.”

All food boxes include a hot turkey meal with all the fixings, including dessert.

Food was supplied by community members, some donated turkeys and many volunteered their time to help fill more than 250 bags for the annual food give-away program.

On Wednesday Chinn says, hot meals will be delivered to senior community members.

“Most of the elderly, or single or live in a motel, or live in a shelter, they have no food to eat,” she said. “So, we just bring it over to them. We had really nice, a couple of landlords call me and say Betty I want to volunteer to deliver the food.  “

Anyone who’d like to volunteer at the Bette Kwan Chinn Day Center can call (707) 407-3833.