Volunteers gearing up for annual Feast of Sharing dinner

AUSTIN (KXAN) - volunteers carved away Tuesday morning to get ready for the 23rd Annual Austin Feast of Sharing Dinner.

“This is a way of giving back to the community in which we serve,” said Danny Flores of the H-E-B grocery chain.  “Everyone has a hard time once in a while and this is one way, at least in 4 hours to give back to those, to be able to sit down with us have a hot meal and just really talk amongst folks”

H-E-B helps kickoff the holiday season with community volunteers to serve more than 14,000 free Thanksgiving meals.

The dinner starts at 4 p.m. and ends fur hours later at the Palmer Events Center in Austin.

“It’s months and months of preparation, and also thank goodness for United Way who helped us with the volunteers,” said Leticia Mendoza, a spokeswoman for H-E-B.

More than 1,200 H-E-B and community volunteers will help cook, prepare plates and serve the food. 

Everything is made in portable kitchens outside the Palmer Events Center.  According to H-E-B, altogether there’s 3,625 pounds of sliced turkey breast; 3,200 gallons of mashed potatoes; 3,200 gallons of vegetable medley; 170 gallons of brown gravy; 1,050 pies; 14,000 dinner rolls and drinks.

There are more than 2,000 seats set up for people to dine at the center.  There will also be live entertainment, arts and crafts for the kids.

“We invite the community to come out we can serve them a warm hot meal they can enjoy the festivities and we all look forward to this year,” said Mendoza.

She also said about 15 non profits will be there to provide social services information.

 H-E-B said the Feast of Sharing started in 1988 and now serves more than 250,000 meals in 32 locations throughout Texas and Mexico.

CapMetro is also teaming up with H-E-B for a 10th year to help provide free rides to anyone in the community.  People have to pick up a special printed pass at the locations listed below

• H-E-B at 2702 E. 7th St.
• H-E-B at 1000 E. 41st St.
• H-E-B at 2400 S. Congress
• H-E-B at 2508 E. Riverside
• H-E-B at 9414 N. Lamar

Capital Metro said it started passing out passes last week, and to call ahead to check availability.  

512-474-1200