Giving thanks and giving turkeys

Anchorage community programs offer help to serve Thanksgiving dinners

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and it is usually a day spent for families to be brought together over a large feast with plenty to go around for seconds, and even an abundance of leftovers to serve over the next few days. This may not be the case for everyone.

Members of Catholic Social Services Alaska need help to provide ingredients for a hearty Thanksgiving meal for those in need on Monday, November 22nd. They are calling this drive the Thanksgiving Blessing. CSS Alaska is joining forces with Food Bank of Alaska, Congregation of Beth Shalom, Muldoon Community Assembly, and St. Patrick’s Parish to serve about 1,400 low-income families to distribute a turkey and all the fixings.

“When we mention 1,400 families, we’re only talking about East Anchorage, specifically the Muldoon site,” says Ellen Krsnak, the CSS Alaska contributor of the program.

CSS Alaska, one of the largest social service agencies in the state, serves as the main contact point for two emergency shelters, two homes for teens, a food pantry, an adoption and pregnancy support programs, and services for individuals with disabilities. These different programs focus to help men, women, and children for temporary and emergency shelter, case management services, counseling and family support, meal services, and so much more.

This year, the Muldoon Assembly Community along with St. Patrick’s Parish has joined forces with CSS Alaska to become one “mega-site” as Krsnak likes to call it.

“We are one mega-site because we are the main contact for the entire East Anchorage vicinity.” Krsnak says.

The deadline on the brochures to donate food items for the Thanksgiving Blessing was listed as November 13. However, Krsnak still assures that all programs are very much open and willing to take more donations.

“We have been working with big drives from all Catholic schools to meet our numbers,” she says. “We wanted to make sure we gave ourselves a deadline of at least 10 days to guarantee we have everything we need for Thanksgiving dinners.”

This program is open to the public and all members of the Anchorage community. There is a larger focus to help those that are identified as low-income families. There is no proof of income that is needed to obtain this type of assistance; however there is a distribution list available which lists the site families should go to. This is dependent on the zip code from where a family resides. The only necessary item to bring is proof of address which shows the zip code.

More information about this event can be food at CSS Alaska’s main website at www.cssalaska.org or Food Bank of Alaska at www.foodbankofalaska.org. The sites for donating, volunteering and assistance being requested can be found here.

Actress turned author talks about new book release

Hilary Duff appeared on last night’s showing of Jimmy Kimmel Live to talk about the release of her latest book, “Elixir”. Duff, 23, is best known for being Disney’s “Lizzie McGuire” several years ago who recently became a hockey wife. Duff struts out from back stage looking radiant in her little black dress.

Kimmel starts the interview by flipping through the last several pages of Duff’s book and reads a provocative excerpt. Duff says, “It’s a novel for young adults—its about a young girl making her way through life as a photojournalist.”

Duff explained to the audience how she turned from actress to fashion designer, and finally becoming an author. She decided to write a novel because of her “urge” to tell a story from several ideas she had. After meeting a handful of the right people her stories came to life.

Duff, who has been traveling around the nation to promote her book talks about some of the odd things she has witnessed during signings.

“One kid tattooed his arm with my signature,” Duff says. “That was my first body part. He will be absolutely mortified once he’s forty.”

Duff’s husband, Mike Comrie of the Pittsburgh Penguins was not able to join his wife on the show. She says he’s in Pittsburgh until April for the season and has to visit him most of the time. Duff’s wedding ring flashes towards Kimmel’s way.

“That’s the largest ring I’ve ever seen!” Kimmel calls out. “It’s almost bigger than a puck!”

Duff talks about marriage life and says how she and her husband are the most competitive couple. “We both just want to win when it comes to competition,” says Duff. This is in reference to the photo of the married couple go-carting during their honeymoon trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Kimmel ends the interview promoting Duff’s book which is out in stores now.