June 23, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

E.J. Jackson Foundation Turkey Dinner Giveaway Celebrates 34th Year

The 34th annual E.J. Jackson Foundation Turkey Dinner Giveaway will provide holiday meals Tuesday to thousands of needy families in South Los Angeles, despite the recent death of the event’s founder.

Members of Ellsworth Jackson’s family are moving forward the event, which annually attracts a line of needy families that winds through the streets surrounding the Jackson Limousine Service, despite his Nov. 1 death from an apparent heart attack.

Organizers said more than 10,000 families will receive meals this year.

“His legacy will live on, and on behalf of our family, I want to say thank you so much for showing your love and sharing my father’s love,” Jackson’s son, Tyron, said through tears the day after his father’s death.

Jackson was the owner of Jackson Limousine Service, which has become well-known as the chauffeur to the stars. But Jackson became even better known for his annual turkey giveaway, which attracts celebrities who volunteer their time to help package and hand out food boxes to the thousands of needy residents who would sometimes wait in line for days.

Among those expected to work at the event this year are Lou Gossett Jr., Edward James Olmos, Tone Loc, Dawnn Lewis, KiKi Shepard and Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles.

According to the company, the giveaway began in 1982 when some area senior citizens who couldn’t afford Thanksgiving holiday meals approached Jackson, who responded by buying 100 turkeys and creating the E.J. Jackson Foundation. The next year he bought 200, and the next he bought 500.

The giveaway grew into an annual community event. Last year, more than 12,000 turkeys were handed out, along with other Thanksgiving meal fixings.

Mayor Eric Garcetti called Jackson an “inspiration” and a “role model.”

“The holidays in L.A. won’t be the same without E.J. on the streets at sunrise, making sure everyone’s basket is full,” Garcetti said. “He set a timeless example for us to follow, and we can honor his legacy by building on the tradition he started and committing ourselves every day to making a difference in the lives of our families, friends and neighbors.”

The Jackson event is just one of several giveaways being held Tuesday and this week. At 9 a.m., the Inner-City Games and Hollenbeck Police Business Council will hold their 35th annual turkey basket giveaway, with turkeys donated by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the executive commission of Inner- City Games. The event will be held at the youth center, 2015 E. First St.

At 6 p.m., the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission will hold its 17th annual Thanksgiving dinner, serving holiday meals to more than 500 homeless people in the Van Nuys area. The event will be at La Iglesia En El Camino, 14800 Sherman Way.

At 9 a.m., Sen. Isadore Hall III, D-Compton, will host the 35th Senate District’s 12th Annual Healthy Family Update and Turkey Giveaway at the Urban Youth Academy, 901 E. Artesia Blvd. in Compton. Also at 9 a.m., longtime local activist “Sweet” Alice Harris will hold an annual giveaway, passing out about 900 turkeys at 10828 Lou-Dillon Ave. in Watts.

 

450807555

Related Posts

Recent Homebuyer Down Payments Slip for First Time in Nearly Two Years

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

April’s Median Down Payment Fell as Buyers Lean Toward Lower-Cost Homes The median down payment made by U.S. homebuyers dropped...

Del Rey Affordable Housing Project to Rise on Former Charter School Site

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Community Corp., Local Faith Group Team Up to Build 122 New Apartments Plans are moving forward for a new residential...

Paris Hilton Buys Mark Wahlberg’s Beverly Park Mansion for $63.1M

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

The Heiress and Media Mogul Joins a Star-Studded Neighborhood Paris Hilton and husband Carter Reum have purchased a high-profile estate...

A.O.C. Brentwood to Close After 16 Years on San Vicente Boulevard

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

Chef Goin and Styne Cite Unsustainably High Rent in Decision to Close  A.O.C. Brentwood, the acclaimed Westside outpost from James...

LA City Councilwomen Yaroslavsky and Jurado Call for Legal Action Against Federal Immigration Raids

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

City Motion Targets Alleged Unconstitutional Tactics, End Qualified Immunity for Fed Officers  City Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Ysabel Jurado introduced...

Weekend Lane Closures on PCH in Malibu Could Snarl Summer Beach Traffic

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

Army Corps Work Triggers Weekend Closure on Pacific Coast Highway Motorists traveling along Pacific Coast Highway this weekend should prepare...

All Aboard to LAX: Metro Opens Game-Changing Transit Hub Ahead of Global Events

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

 New LAX/Metro Transit Center Comes Closer to Connecting Metro Directly to LAX The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)...

Princess Diana’s Largest Wardrobe Auction Set for Beverly Hills

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Over 200 Royal Garments to Hit the Auction Block for Charity More than 200 garments and royal artifacts, including the...

Queer Beauty Through the Ages: Getty Hosts Lecture on Greek Art’s Influence on LGBTQ Aesthetics

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Art Historian to Trace Homoerotic Imagery From Ancient Greece to Modern Queer Identity As part of its ongoing Pride Month...

Food Fight on the Venice Boardwalk: Chefs Stand Up for Immigrants with Food

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Turk’s Pizza Party Rallies Top Local Eateries for an Immigrant Rights Fundraiser In a bold display of culinary activism, Turk’s...

Navy Vietnam Vet Finally Gets His UCLA Commencement Moment

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

John Fong, 80, Missed His Graduation in 1968 While in Vietnam  Nearly six decades after completing his studies, U.S. Navy...

Culver City Launches Solidarity Campaign Alongside Hate Crimes Report Presentation

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Join City Leaders on June 24 for a Community Presentation on Rising Hate Incidents Local officials and residents are invited...

Films, Flair, and Panoramas: Free Cultural Events Light Up The Ebell This Week

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

The Ebell Theatre Hosts a Double Feature of Films, Plus a Coffee Talk A pair of free public events this...

Culver City Police Nab Two Suspects in Canterbury Drive Burglary Case

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Community Tip and Set Investigation Lead to Arrest of Repeat Offenders Culver City police have arrested two suspects in connection...

9th Circuit Court Backs Trump in Battle Over California National Guard Control

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Federal Judges Allow Trump to Retain Command of Troops in Los Angeles Federal judges on Thursday cleared the way for...