July 2, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica Locals Set Out To Feed The Homeless This Thanksgiving:

Fifteen years ago, Barry Walker served meals to homeless people in need and told his friends about it. Now, people are following in his footsteps through Gobble Gobble Give in cities across the country, including Santa Monica, New York, and Las Vegas, and he expects more to come.

Last year, volunteers in eight cities collectively sent out more than 10,000 meals.

Walker describes the organization as a potluck party where they do not eat the food. Volunteers from communities around the country help prepare and deliver meals to homeless people in their respective areas.

“I gave meals to people I see every day on the street,” said Walker. “I had a couple of friends who said ‘Let’s do that next year…’ and so the year went on, and these people came to me and said ‘Do you want to do that again?’ and I was like, ‘Oh yeah! Yeah, sure,’ and so it was from the very beginning it was the community coming to me.”

Every year, preparation starts earlier, and Walker hopes to eventually make it a year-round event.

The first volunteers arrive at 10 am on Thanksgiving morning and the last ones leave at 1 pm. They heat up the food, package it, along with toiletries and other needed products, and send them off in their cars, or sometimes on foot.

At the Santa Monica location, based out of Walker’s business Raven Spa at 208 Pier Avenue, willing volunteers line up outside around the block. The event was made to last three hours so that people could help their community and still be able to spend Thanksgiving with their family.

This year will be the fifth year when their second location in New York first started helping Harlem’s homeless out of the Church of the Intercession, feeding thousands each time.

“When it’s over, I think it’s surreal… The smoke has cleared and there’s no more food left,” said the founder of the organization that feeds more people every year.

Each location does the same thing, but in their own way. In Los Angeles, many of the people the people deliver food by car and cover more ground. In New York, much of the feeding is done at the church, and is done on a bigger scale.

The yearly “potluck party” is open to anyone who wants to participate. People contribute many different kinds of food. Some people bake their meals. Others deliver bags of chips.

“The idea is that it’s thought out food,” Walker said. “It’s something that somebody enjoys making, they make it with love, and they make a lot of it.”

Some people who cannot contribute food are given turkeys to cook, so everyone who participates is able to contribute in one way or another.

Walker hopes to expand Gobble Gobble Give and not only feed more people, but start a network within the community of people who are willing to help. He wants to have self-sustaining businesses open up that are run by the homeless population in Los Angeles. He told The Mirror that he has figured out how to efficiently do this, and simply needs more money.

“It’s definitely doable. We’ve already proven that it works,” said Walker. “We just need a little bit of gas to go into the machine.”

For anyone who wants to get involved, visit www.gobblegobblegive.org.

in News
<>Related Posts

People are Using Palisades for “Disaster Tours.” Local Officials Are Trying to Stop Them

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

A new motion introduced to City Council requests a coordinated strategy from LADOT, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the...

Santa Monica Favorite Esters Rebrands as Esters Wine Shop & Oyster Bar

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

New Concept Launches With French-Spanish Flair and Free Bubbles Esters Wine Shop, the fave Parisian-style wine bar in downtown Santa...

Letter to the Editor: Santa Monica’s Great Park: It’s Time to Deliver on 100 Years of Promise

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Santa Monica stands at the edge of history. For nearly a century, residents have consistently supported turning the airport land...

Why Nordstrom Says It’s Closing Its Santa Monica Place Location

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

A Nordstrom spokesperson explained the closure as a strategic realignment Nordstrom confirmed its decision to close its Santa Monica store...

Three-Bed Palisades Highlands Townhouse Hits Market for $1.7M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The Mediterranean-style property, located at 1529 Michael Lane, is part of a 71-unit community A remodeled 1,919-square-foot townhouse in the...

Six-Bed Mar Vista Hilltop Home Under Construction Lists for $5.3M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The private backyard is complete with a pool, spa, fire pit, built-in BBQ, and areas for outdoor dining A stunning...

(Video) Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction of Palisades Wildfires

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

With the reopening also comes a new exhibit, “The Kingdom of Pylos” Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction...

Free Virtual Planetarium Shows Coming to SMC in July

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The virtual format is in place as construction of the new SMC Planetarium and Observatory nears completion The Santa Monica...

Santa Monica Adopts $793.3M Budget for FY25-27, Prioritizing Housing and Safety

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The budget preserves core services and invests in major projects, including over $1 billion in hotel investments The Santa Monica...

Iranian Pastor in West L.A. Speaks as Church Rocked by Immigration Raids 

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Five Detained as Fear Spreads Through Persian Christian Faith Community  Fear has spread through a West Los Angeles congregation after...

California Doubles Down on Hollywood: $750M in Tax Credits Approved for Film and TV Industry

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

State Lawmakers Back Major Expansion of Production Incentives, Raising Job Projections Los Angeles’ film and television industry is poised to...

Park: “Our Water Infrastructure Must Be Emergency-Ready Every Day”

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Councilwoman expressed cautious relief at the news but emphasized the need for robust infrastructure The Los Angeles Department of Water...

Washington Square Pizza Opens to the Public

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

New York Style Pizza “By-The-Slice” Now at the Beach By Nick Antonicello  Washington Square Pizza formally opened its doors today...

California Allocates $5B for Road Repairs, Transit Expansion

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

The funding aims to improve road safety, reduce traffic congestion, and promote cleaner transportation California is investing nearly $5 billion...

THIS SUNDAY: Palisades Symphony Presents “Best of Broadway”

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

The performance will feature a full orchestra playing iconic selections, from John Philip Sousa’s *El Capitan* and George Gershwin’s *The...