Hundreds of volunteers at South Side Mission are already three days’ into the prep work for tomorrow’s large-scale feast.
The kitchen is alive with the hum of industrial-sized mixers and the clanking of baking sheets.
This is Chef Chris Franzoni’s 12th year overseeing the massive culinary production. He says the South Side Mission plans to deliver 3,300 meals and serve 200 in the gymnasium for Thanksgiving.
Franzoni says aside from the pay, the work is worth it, after seeing the relief on people’s faces when they get their meals.
“The holidays might be depressing with no loved ones or nowhere to go. For us to provide that for them, it’s a lot of fun,” Franzonie said.
Volunteer Martha Dontje gazed over the nearly 500 pies cooling in the gymnasium.
“We had a bunch of people working on them. I just had a slice in the kitchen, so they are verrrrry good,” Dontje said.
Dontje is 84 years old. Her husband died two years ago, so she says volunteering has given her a sense of purpose.
“It’s hard to find a place to be needed. I just feel better by doing something,” Dontje said.
The Christian organization primarily serves the 61605 zip code, where nearly half its residents live below the federal poverty level. Development Director Jeff McSweeney says often the people they see are lonely.
“Who just through a random decision, a random act of life, all of the sudden, they’re on one path that is just really gut-wrenching,” McSweeney said. “They just want someone to talk to, and they just want a nice meal.”
Dontje says she looks forward to spending her Thanksgiving with them.
