bring on the rain!

I woke up this morning to POURING RAIN.

Yes, that's right.

POURING RAIN.

On the ONE day of the year that people come to the Club EARLY and begin LINING UP around the building.

This lining up begins about an hour before we open the doors and continues for about an hour.

And it is pouring rain.

So say a prayer for us that at 4:30pm it stops raining.

SOOOOO many, people (hundreds!) come walking to the Club tonight.

I need the rain to stop!

Please.

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This was in the AZ Republic today!

Feasts to fill bellies at public Thanksgiving dinner

by Edythe Jensen - Nov. 25, 2008 02:19 PM

The Arizona Republic

Chandler restaurant owner Mike Lopercio is donating and cooking all the trimmings for a big Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday at the Chandler Compadre Branch Boys and Girls Club. He's counting on about 600 guests, and it's something he has been doing since 1999.

"We've been successful in Chandler for so many years and we realize there are people who can't afford to eat at our restaurant. It makes sense for us to give what we can," said Lopercio, a Tempe resident who owns RigaTonys at 1374 N. Arizona Ave. and Iguana Mac's at 1371 N. Alma School Road. He also owns RigaTonys in Mesa.

The 6 p.m. feast at 300 E. Chandler Blvd. is free and open to the public; Lopercio said two-thirds of the guests are usually the children who spend their free time at the club. That's why he makes 1,100 pounds of pasta salad; it's a hit with the kids. The children's families and neighbors round out the drop-in guest list.

What's cooking for Thanksgiving dinner

• 40 turkeys donated by Chandler Service Club.
• 150 pies donated by Chandler Flower Girls.
Restaurant owner Mike Lopercio is bringing:
• 2,100 pounds of mashed potatoes
• 20 gallons of gravy
• 1,900 pounds of stuffing
• 4,500 servings of corn
• 1,000 pounds of fruit
• 1,100 pounds of pasta salad
• 450 pounds of fresh vegetables
• 40 gallons of cranberry sauce