An ongoing partnership between Eugene Police Department, Elk Horn Brewery and Alma Catering will ensure 50 disabled and/or financially disadvantaged veterans and their families, as well as some Holiday Farm Fire victim families living in hotels, will have a special Thanksgiving meal, delivered to their doorstep.
The Veterans Administration and other groups have identified families who could use the assistance. Volunteers have been rounding up corporate and private donations for turkeys, pies, gas-station fuel cards and other items. The meals will include thank you cards, scarfs, toys and other gifts. “It's our way to thank them for their service and do something helpful for them on Thanksgiving Day,” said EPD Officer Joe Kidd.
Elk Horn staff will be smoking the turkeys, while volunteers will be providing pies to donate. The EPD Crisis Negotiation Team will cook and organize meals the day before Thanksgiving. Then on Thanksgiving morning, SWAT, Crisis Negotiation Team and Patrol officers as well as Eugene Police and Central Lane 911 staff will be doing special delivery of the dinners – along with “thank you for your service” cards. The project will adhere to Covid-19 restrictions to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
