Thanksgiving in Santa Monica:

There are plenty of things to do in Santa Monica and surrounding areas on Thanksgiving Day. We’ve compiled a list of places seeking donations and volunteers on turkey day, letting locals know where to give of themselves before or after the fun-filled feeding frenzy. We’ve also included a list of dining options for foodies and families who want to skip the sweat in the kitchen and let someone else prepare the turkey and trimmings. Happy Thanksgiving.

Donate and volunteer:

Westside Food Bank

1710 22nd Street

Santa Monica

The food bank needs turkeys for Thanksgiving Day and during the remainder of the winter holiday season. Volunteers can hold a frozen turkey drive or donate a turkey for a local family in need. To donate $30 for a holiday meal, visit www.westsidefoodbankca.org and click on the tab labeled How to Help. For more information, call Allison Griffith, 310.828-6016 x 12.

Santa Monica Civic Auditorium

1855 Main Street

Santa Monica

A free turkey dinner is served here from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Some volunteers roast turkeys on Wednesday night and bring them to the center in the morning, while others simply show up Wednesday night with uncooked, defrosted turkeys. They also need volunteers during the meal on Thursday and during late afternoon clean-up session. Donate time, turkeys, or other food items to this feast. Started by a Christian group from Santa Monica Vineyard in 1982, the Thanksgiving meal has grown into a large interfaith offering fueled by more than 1,000 volunteers. They give out blankets and haircuts too. For more information, call 310.394.3153.

The Lighthouse Church

1220 20th Street

Santa Monica

The church is seeking volunteers to open their homes to parishioners who don’t have a place to go on Thanksgiving. For more information, call Pam at 310.308.9101. Also, those who buy pumpkin or pecan pies baked by juniors and seniors at the Lighthouse Christian Academy will help fund a class trip to Washington D.C. For more information, call Kathryn at 310.882.8827.

St. Joseph’s Center

204 Hampton Drive

Venice

This outreach provider prepares Thanksgiving baskets for the homeless, senior citizens, and veterans in need. Suggested items for donation are turkeys, canned vegetables, canned fruit, and boxed stuffing. A grocery store gift card of $20-$30 is another welcome donation for those who want to skip the foodstuff route. For more information, call 310. 396.6468 x 326.

Eat, drink and be merry:

Capo

1810 Ocean Avenue, 310.394.5550

Offering a White Truffle Thanksgiving Tasting Menu priced at $150, plus a limited regular menu.

Whist at the Viceroy

1819 Ocean Avenue, 310.260.7511

Offering a four-course Thanksgiving Dinner for $79 per person, $45 per child.

Catch at Casa Del Mar

1910 Ocean Way, 310.581.7714

Offering a three-course prix-fixe Thanksgiving brunch from 11:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; call for pricing.

The Penthouse at the Huntley

1111 Second Street , 310.394.5454