CLICK on the image to ENLARGE Mike Richardson gives the blessing to the meal, while Will Hightower, Humberto Guerrero and Peter Swan pray along.

In our November 8th Local edition, we reported about a heated meeting, between City Officials and General Donovan Neighborhood Association. Tom Schiavoni, from the mayor’s office, guaranteed the assembly that the move of the shelter into the General Donovan School was going to last no more than two weeks (Nov. 6 to Nov. 20).

General Donovan Neighborhood Association President, José Rodriguez’s argument was that the shelter should have never been moved into the school. “It was promised by the Mayor”, agreed Vice President Don Silva. “We collected more than 160 opposing signatures from the neighbors and they were ignored,” said Silva at that meeting.

“It takes months for a family of four to pack and unpack when they move. Imagine moving a family of fifty twice in two weeks”, said Shelter Director Susan McGibbon, speaking from the shelter’s new location ready to serve their Thanksgiving dinner.

The place, adorned with all kind of Thanksgiving motives to make the residents feel at home, was appreciated by all. “There is no place other than this to spend Thanksgiving. This is home to me!” said David Louis with a big smile. According to Louis, he will travel to Lawrence every year to spend Thanksgiving at the shelter.

Peter Swan, volunteers to dispose of the trash. “I like to do it, it makes me feel proud of being here,” said Swan, while helping John Smith get the TV antenna oriented, under the rain. “What is Thanksgiving Day without football anyway?” said Swan, who can only hear the announcer, since he is legally blind. Something that calls every visitor’s attention is the size of the stove, which is not larger than one for a family of four, yet it can feed a family of 50, twice a day, 365 days a year. The kitchen heroes, called “Miracle Workers” by Susan McGibbon are the cooks Sonia Frías and Carmen Vargas. “They are the ones who make miracles here in this kitchen”, said McGibbon. “We are very appreciative of all the help we received from the mayor’s office and the cooperation from the police and the General Donovan Neighborhood Association”, said Joseph Cotton, Executive Director of the Psychological Center.