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Holiday cheer, good deeds and delicious meals served up by the Cheesecake
By Cindy Engler
An outpouring of giving took place at The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in San Francisco on Thanksgiving as hundreds of volunteers from The Cheesecake Factory showed up to do what they do best: serve a delicious sit-down meal.
For the past eight years chefs, line cooks, servers, hostesses and office staff from The Cheesecake Factory restaurants throughout the Bay Area continued their annual Thanksgiving tradition by commandeering the ARC’s dining hall and kitchen to feed those less fortunate.
“We are so thankful to The Cheesecake Factory and all the staff who come year after year to volunteer and donate to the men, women and children in Salvation Army programs throughout the city of San Francisco,” said Major Katherine E. Hodder-Reed, associate Bay Area coordinator for The Salvation Army ARC. “Due to the generous donation of The Cheesecake Factory and the unselfishness of their staff, we were able to provide healthy and delicious meals to more than 400 people this Thanksgiving. It’s a great blessing!”
Volunteers arrived early to transform the dining hall. Linens, centerpieces, balloons and a DJ provided an upscale atmosphere for diners. Guests feasted on a delicious meal of turkey, salad, sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing and gravy specially prepared by The Cheesecake Factory’s head chefs. The meal ended with a slice of The Cheesecake Factory’s world famous pumpkin pie.
“Although we weren’t at The Cheesecake Factory, the set-up, along with the food and service, made me feel as if I was at their restaurant,” said Lenny, who is currently in the ARC program. “I can truly say Thanksgiving 2012 will be one I will forever remember. Thanks to being sober, I’ve come to learn how to appreciate an extended family and a home away from home.”
According to Henry Park, who led the team of The Cheesecake Factory volunteers, “This was the best service day yet!”
Also continuing their tradition of giving is The Salvation Army South of Market Corps in San Francisco. The corps brought a large team of volunteers to take complimentary professional photographs of the men and women currently in the program.
Karen Lim said: “Words cannot express our joy seeing the beneficiaries’ expression when they saw their portrait. One gentleman stared at his picture admiringly for a long time! Others wanted their picture taken from head to toe because they looked so great wearing their suit and tie!”
Hodder-Reed fittingly acknowledged the giving attitude of both The Cheesecake Factory and South of Market Corps.
“We give thanks for our wonderful volunteers from The Cheesecake Factory and the South of Market Corps, for they know the true meaning of giving,” Hodder-Reed said.
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