The ninth annual Thanksgiving Day Community Meal, provided by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's St. Joseph Conference and Upland restaurateur Jacob Jouni of Jouni's Café, will be offered at St. Joseph Church, 1150 W. Holt Avenue, Pomona.

Henry Cabrera, St. Joseph Conference president, expects that Jouni and Conference members will serve approximately 1,000 free meals Nov. 23, 11 a.m-2 p.m. Also helping in this Thanksgiving Day feast will be the Knights of Columbus, Council 877 and members of the American Arab Catholic Community (AACC), both from St. Joseph's.

It was Jouni, a St. Joseph parishioner and AACC member, who originally came up with the idea to stage an annual Thanksgiving Day community meal.

"I believe in giving to the community," said Jouni. "It makes you feel good and I really enjoy it. As Arab-Christians, my family and I believe in helping others. I hope this meal helps brighten the holiday season for those who benefit from this meal."

Jouni said that he enjoys Thanksgiving because he and his family mingle with individuals and families in attendance each year. This, he said, "allows me to show my kids that they are no better than other people. I feel this is an important lesson to teach children."

"We are so thankful for the love and dedication Mr. Jouni and his staff have shown each Thanksgiving," said Cabrera. "He has told me that this is his way of giving back for what God has provided for him and his family."

Cabrera said financial gifts are welcomed to help purchase desserts and other items. Checks earmarked "2006 Thanksgiving Day Meal" may be sent to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Joseph Conference, 1150 W. Holt Ave., Pomona, CA 91768. For more information, call Cabrera at (909) 469-9773 or (909) 629-4101.

In Los Angeles, the SVDP's Our Mother of Good Counsel Conference is seeking the public's assistance with food donations and financial gifts for 100 Thanksgiving baskets that will be distributed to local disadvantaged families.

Needed food items include: turkeys, hams, potatoes, rice, beans, canned goods and non-perishable items. The recipients of these baskets have already been selected.

Financial gifts to purchase the needed food items at a discount can be earmarked "2006 Thanksgiving Baskets" and sent to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Our Mother of Good Counsel, 2060 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027-2597. For more information, call Claire Padama, Conference president, at (323) 644-8194 or (818) 968-5325.