Churchill partners with the Lord's Kitchen in food box giveaway

Churchill partners with the Lord's Kitchen in food box

giveaway

Volunteers and staff from The Lord's Kitchen and racetrack and corporate team

members from Churchill Downs have started Thanksgiving Week beneath the historic

Twin Spires with the annual task of preparing boxes of food items that will

distributed with frozen turkeys during the charitable organization's annual

Thanksgiving Family Food Box Giveaway at the track on Tuesday.

The Thanksgiving food boxes, which contain canned goods and other

non-perishable items sufficient to feed a family of four, were being assembled

Monday by volunteers in the Paddock Pavilion, the site of Tuesday's

distribution. Many Churchill Downs employees and officials have also donated

food items for the boxes, with some track departments competing against each

other for the honor of collecting the largest amount of food items donated to

the annual event.

Nearly 600 families were served during the Thanksgiving Family Food Box

Giveaway in 2010 and at least that many will receive frozen turkeys and boxes

packed with holiday foods and trimmings this year. The food box distribution is

scheduled for 10 a.m. (EST) Tuesday in the track's Paddock Pavilion. 

Only those who previously registered to participate in The Lord's Kitchen's

Thanksgiving Family Food Box Giveaway will be provided with a turkey and food

box on Tuesday. There is no walk-up distribution. Information on The Lord's

Kitchen is available online at

www.theLordsKitchen.com.

The Lord's Kitchen is located just a few blocks from Churchill Downs at 2732

South 5th Street and has been serving needy families and residents in the

neighborhood surrounding the historic home of the Kentucky Derby since Christmas

Day, 1988. The organization recently expanded its mission and facilities with

the opening of its City of Hope at 18th and Standard Avenue.

The 2011 renewal marks the fifth consecutive year that Churchill Downs has

teamed with The Lord's Kitchen for the holiday Family Food Box Giveaway.

"The Thanksgiving Family Food Box Giveaway is always a very special occasion

for needy residents in our community that we serve 365 days a year and the

volunteers who open their hearts to provide their time, service and financial

support for this event," said Sam Watene, executive director of The Lord's

Kitchen. 

"Churchill Downs is both a good neighbor and important supporter of the work

of The Lord's Kitchen, and it is a joy each year to join the generous volunteers

from its staff for this event that touches so many lives during a very important

time.

"The need among the families we serve in neighborhoods surrounding Churchill

Downs and throughout our entire community continues to grow, so we thank

Churchill Downs and those throughout Metro Louisville who support of our

Thanksgiving  Family Food Box Giveaway and the work of The Lord's Kitchen

throughout the year." 

Additional volunteers to serve meals at The Lord's Kitchen on Thanksgiving

Day and Christmas Day are needed. Those interested in volunteering or donating

food for other holiday programs at The Lord's Kitchen should call (502)

964-3304, ext. 1250.