by nate on Thursday, November 26th, 2009 | Family, Friendship, Inspiration, Love, Love Story, News, World | No Comments

Area volunteers help serve free Thanksgiving Day meals to needy people at Avolio’s Italian Restaurant on San Bernardino Road in Covina Nov. 26, 2009. The Avolio family sponsors the annual event. (SGVN/Staff photo by Leo Jarzomb)

The spirit of giving has never been greater at Avolio’s Italian Restaurant than it was this Thanksgiving.

Patrons donated bags full of groceries and a freezer full of turkeys in the days leading up to the business’ annual Thanksgiving dinner giveaway, said Pietro Avolio, the restaurant’s owner.

“This is the first year we didn’t have to buy anything out-of-pocket, because everything was donated,” Avolio said. “They saw our sign, asked what we needed, and brought it.”

The need for those donations has never been greater, as more people than ever came out to eat Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, Avolio said.

“The first year, about 100 people came out,” Avolio said. “Last year about 200 people came out, and this year we served close to 300 people.”

Monica Rangel, of Baldwin Park, brought her 14-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter to the feast, after she lost her her job at Ready Pac Produce in Irwindale, she said.

“I got laid off about two months ago and it’s hard right now,” Rangel said. “I really appreciate it.”

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Tags: Avolio's Restaurant, Baldwin Park, Covina family’s giving spirit grows, Gift, giving, Italian Restaurant, Italian-style, San Gabriel Valley, the spirit of giving