2024 Harvest Festival draws 500

Lake Los Angeles – The Annual Harvest Festival at Stephen Sorensen Community Regional Park drew 500+ Lake Los Angeles parents and children to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal, play games, take photos and win great prizes. Pictured is a panoramic view of some of the tables with the meal service tables in the back. The community gymnasium was filled to capacity.

Thirty tables were set up, but it became evident very quickly that more were needed as the crowd grew. Fifty tables and ten chairs per table were set up and every chair was occupied and more. Every table at the park was used.

The turkey dinners were all dished up and then pizza was added to feed everyone at the event.

The SBCC team cooked while the park staff served the meals. When SBCC team member Jackie Livingstone became under the weather, her husband Ralph cooked the turkeys to perfection. The park staff created the decorations, organized the activities and set up the photo booth. LA Care furnished 100 bags of thanksgiving trimmings. Wilsona Save the Children’s Early Steps to School Success furnished 100 dinner boxes that had either a turkey or a ham plus all of the typical Thanksgiving trimmings. One box per family was given to some very happy and appreciative Lake LA families.

Three gift certificates were award from Cinemark, Chick fil A and Subway for participating in the pie decoration contest, word search contest and cup stack competition.

Next in line for the families of this community is the beloved Annual Lighting of the Community Tree. The community tree is designed and dedicated to the enjoyment of all Lake Los Angeles families and stands lit brightly for the month of December each year. The tree will be lit on Friday, December 6 starting at 5:00pm.

The productive and successful partnership between Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation with Strength Based Community Change (SBCC) makes for the type of successful enjoyable and safe community events at the park cherished by all.

Click on photos to get full view.

Panorama photo created by LLA Artist Chuck Tedeschi

Pictured is Michelle Mejia with Wilsona Save the Children, Erika Schwerdt with SBCC and Vanderlyn Williams and Ymani Mitchell with P&R at Sorensen Park at the photo booth.

By Shirley Harriman