Ceres High School’s Soroptimist Club reached its goal of providing free meals to 500 families this Thanksgiving in partnership with Stanislaus County Center For Human Services.

“It makes your heart feel good,” commented S Club advisor Angela Durossette.

 “A lot of people helped us,” she added. “Everything ran smooth. We’d like to try to do this every year.”

The S Club promoted the community service project, Ceres Giving Back To Our Community, on its Facebook page (facebook.com/CHSsoroptimist). 

A $30 donation covered the cost of one meal for one family.

Each family received either a turkey, turkey roast or two chickens, along with a five-pound bag of potatoes, a dozen eggs, two cans of corn, two boxes of stuffing, one package of bread rolls, two evaporated milks, four sticks of butter and one pumpkin pie.

The S Club used monies raised through donations to purchase food from Food 4 Less, Save Mart, Cost Less, La Perla Tapatia and Beto’s Bakery.

Diestel Turkey Ranch donated the meat. Central Valley’s and Ceres High’s booster clubs donated the eggs. Pumpkin pies were ordered from Beto’s Bakery. The Center for Human Services covered the cost. Couper Condit purchased the rolls.

A meal voucher was mailed to each family.

“Teachers and staff from schools nominated families,” Durossette said. “There was a high need.”

The pickup was held 2:20 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at Ceres High’s student parking lot.

“We gave out at least 200 meals the last hour. It got really busy.”

The S Club plans to serve free Thanksgiving meals to more families next year.

“We want to do 1,000 dinners,” she said.