11/26/2009 - Bend / Redmond

by Matt McDonald

The turkey is cooked, plates of pie wait to be served. Last year, around three hundred came to the free Thanksgiving dinner hosted by the Hunger Prevention coaltion in Bend. With the down economy, this year, more are expected. At every table, a different story.

"I am currently about nine months pregnant," said Sabrina Pishion, after enjoying her meal.

Sabrina Pishion is taking food back to the hotel where she lives. Drug problems in the past forced her to give up her previous children. Now, she has a job and some hope for the season.

"I get to keep this baby and raise it as my own," said Pishion.

Craig Estep enjoys the meal. He hasn't worked since last summer's job on a fishing boat in Washington.

"So I just went down there to the boat and seen the captain down there then I asked him if I could have a job, he said yes," said Estep.

For now, he's busy as a new student at Pilot Butte Middle School.

"I mean I don't know what I like about it, I just think it's a cool school," said Estep.

His parents are both looking for work. A lucky break with unemployment benefits giving them the money for a hotel.

The Hunger Coalition serves about three hundred meals, about the same as last year. Somewhat of a pleasant surprise.

At the Redmond Senior Center, the City Center church is hosting its annual meal.

"When I seem someone on the street, like what I'm doing right now, camping. If I have extra money I'll volunteer to buy them a sandwhich," said Rusty Elliot after enjoying his meal.

Rusty is homeless. working as a landscaper, things got too slow to put a roof over his head. Instead to keep busy,

"I volunteer," said Rusty.

The numbers are a bigger surprise in Redmond, way down. The staff saying they served about 200 hundred people, fifty less than last year.