More than 300 people, including volunteers, Ducks players and staff, and Second Harvest staff handed out Thanksgiving meals and other food to approximately 7,000 families on Thanksgiving Day. Each car that came through received a pre-prepared, heat-and-serve holiday meal for four (turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, King's Hawaiian rolls, and a pie), one box of supplemental, shelf-stable food and one box of fresh produce. In all, 1,300 turkeys, 7,000 pies and 13,000 pounds of potatoes, along with 175,000 pounds of boxed produce and shelf-stable groceries were provided for the food distribution.
This year, We Give Thanks, Inc., founded by Anaheim restaurateur Frank Garcia, teamed up with Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Community Action Partnership of OC Food Bank, Waste Not OC, Wells Fargo, Honda Center and the Anaheim Ducks for its 34th annual event for Orange County residents who continue to struggle with food insecurity. For the past 11 years, We Give Thanks has partnered with Wells Fargo and the Ducks to host the annual buffet-style feast at Honda Center.
Ducks goaltending coach Sudarshan Maharaj knows the importance of giving back to a community that has given so much to the organization over the years. "It's a great opportunity for us to give back to the community especially in a time of need like this," he says. "The world is going through a real difficult time. There are a lot of people who need help, so it's a great thing that organizations like Second Harvest exist."
To make the process as smooth, efficient and safe as possible, volunteers were given different job responsibilities. Maharaj was responsible for opening and closing vehicle trunks while another person placed the boxes of food inside. Maharaj had plenty of assistance. Joining him were Ducks players Max Comtois, Derek Grant, Brendan Guhle, Danton Heinen, Max Jones, Sam Steel, Simon Benoit, Chase De Leo, Josh Mahura, Antoine Morand, Bo Groulx and Jani Hakanpaa.