Club serves up Thanksgiving meals to go

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara gave out Thanksgiving meals to go on Tuesday.

About 75 families signed up for the meal kits.

They come with all the ingredients that just need to be heated.

The club usually has an in-person Thanksgiving feast, but organizers decided this was the safest way to go during the pandemic.

Montecito Bank & Trust sponsored the meals.

Bank president George Leis donned an apron decorated with turkeys made out of little hand prints.

Leis helped kids hand out the meals from a table set up outside the club.

The clubs assistant director said it made her feel good.

Elle Bittner said she gets to know the kids and see their need for supper.

She is glad their families signed up for their holiday meals.

Orlando Aldana is a chef picked up dinners to dine with his younger daughter Oliana since other family members will be going to Fillmore for their feast.

He will be volunteering over the holidays and happens to be between jobs.

Aldana liked the to go offerings and said he often add some of his own ingredients to make the meals taste even better.