Thousands of Homeless Get Free Meal in Los Angeles

In a bit of good news as we head into the holiday, thousands of homeless people and others down on their luck lined up at the Los Angeles Mission on Skid Row today for an annual Thanksgiving meal prepared by notable area chefs and dished out by celebrities and politicians.

The mission at 303 E. Fifth St. traditionally doles out roughly 3,000 pounds of turkey with all the fixings. Chef Michael Voltaggio led the team of professionals in the kitchen, with food prep beginning at 4:30 a.m.

Other noted chefs taking part were Susan Goin of The A.O.C. and Lucques, Josiah Citrin of Melisse, Steve Samson of Sotto, Ray Garcia of FIG, Josef Centeno of Baco Mercat and Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes.

"They have a great team here," Garcia told NBC4. "The guys who do it ... every day, you know, they're really incredible and they have a place they should be proud of. It operates not much different than my kitchen."

Actor Neil Patrick Harris was also lending a hand in the kitchen.

Among those helping to serve the meals were Bella Thorne ("Shake It Up"), Maitland Ward ("Boy Meets Girl"), Andrea Bowen ("Desperate Housewives"), Rick Schroder ("NYPD Blue"), Kevin Nealon ("Weeds"), Susan Yeagley ("Parks and Recreation"), Emma Kenney ("Shameless"), Pamela Bach- Hasselhoff ("Baywatch"), Aeriel Miranda ("Pretty Little Liars"), Octavius Johnson ("Ray Donovan"), Mayor Eric Garcetti, City Attorney Mike Feuer and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck.

Los Angeles Christian Health Centers also provided free foot care and exams for the homeless during the event.

"The thing is that this day is important as well as the other days," the mission's Kimberly Battaglia told Channel 4. "There (is) always someone to feed in downtown Los Angeles."

-- City News Service