-
Karen Arnold (left) of Human Resources and Gemma Rieser of the Business Resource Center served salads to start off the meal.
-
UC President Janet Napolitano greeted guests from the South Berkeley Senior Center, one of the area senior homes that bused residents in for the Thanksgiving meal.
-
Regina Ranoa (right) of the UCOP Budget Office served dinner plates as one friendly guest got ready to sit down and enjoy her dinner.
-
Nearly 2,000 attendees were served dinners, which included salad, turkey, vegetables and pumpkin pie. Everyone said the meal was delicious!
-
Donna Collins (left) of the Center for Operation Excellence and Pauline Metzgar of External Relations enjoyed the music provided by a rhythm and blues band.
-
Oakland Mayor Jean Quan (left) and President Napolitano greeted the crowd during a break in the music. "We love Oakland!" Napolitano said.
-
Bobbi Perkins-Hill (left) and Rondy Epting-Day, both from the UC California Digital Library, came over from UCOP's 20th St. building to volunteer.
-
Mike Kusiak (front center) of Research Policy Analysis and Coordination organized the UCOP coat drive and volunteer corps for the event.
-
President Napolitano greeted and thanked the UCOP volunteers, who numbered 52 out of about 250 in all who staffed the event.
More than 50 UCOP volunteers got into the spirit of Thanksgiving a little early this year, when they helped serve turkey dinners, complete with sides and pumpkin pie for dessert, to Oakland seniors, low-income families and homeless citizens.
The event was the city’s 23rd annual Thanksgiving Dinner and Coat Give-Away at the Marriott City Center, Tuesday, Nov. 25, where UC President Janet Napolitano and Oakland Mayor Jean Quan also made appearances.
UCOP Policy Resource Coordinator Michael Kusiak organized UCOP’s participation in the event, which also brought in more than 100 gently used coats to donate to the cause.
“We had a great group of volunteers,” Kusiak said. “It was a great way to kick off a season of being mindful and grateful, and an easy way to get involved with the Oakland community we work in.”
Sponsors of the event included the Department of Human Services, the Community Action Partnership, the Hunger and Homeless Program, the Communities United Committee, the Golden State Warriors, the Oakland Raiders and the Emergency Food Providers Advisory Committee.
Check out the above slideshow for more on the event.