The spirit of Thanksgiving was on full display Tuesday morning as the Jackson Limo Foundation hosted its annual Thanksgiving Turkey and Grocery Giveaway at People’s Independent Church of Christ, located at 5856 West Boulevard in Hyde Park. Beginning at 8 a.m., long lines of cars stretched for blocks, marking another successful year for one of Los Angeles’ most enduring and impactful holiday traditions.
This year’s event served more than 3,000 families, with approximately 3,000 cars passing through the distribution site to receive turkeys and complete Thanksgiving grocery packages. The giveaway included turkeys along with cornbread, greens, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, fresh produce, cookies, water, and other holiday staples; ensuring families could prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal at home.
A Legacy of Giving Spanning More Than Three Decades
The annual giveaway is organized by the Jackson Limo Foundation, founded by E.J. Jackson, owner of Jackson Limousines, a company that has served the Los Angeles community for more than 40 years. What began in 1982 as a modest effort to help seniors who could not afford Thanksgiving meals has grown into a large-scale community operation supporting seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, wounded warriors, and families facing hardship.
In an interview during the event with KTLA 5 News, Lyn Tavai, the CEO of the Jackson Limo Foundation, emphasized the driving force behind the tradition. Their mission has always been simple: they never wanted anyone to go hungry on Thanksgiving. That commitment has shaped the foundation’s work for more than three decades and continues to inspire volunteers, sponsors, and partner organizations each year.
A Community Effort Fueled by Compassion
On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the Hyde Park neighborhood once again became a gathering place for hope and gratitude. Lines of vehicles stretched for blocks as families waited patiently to receive food. Volunteers worked efficiently to distribute thousands of grocery bags, while sponsors and community organizations helped ensure the operation ran smoothly.
The scale of the event reflected years of growth and community trust. What once started with 100 turkeys has expanded to as many as 12,000 turkeys distributed annually, made possible by the continued generosity of donors and the support of partnering organizations.
Soul Housing’s First Year Volunteering and Sponsoring
Among those partners this year was Soul Housing, which volunteered and sponsored the event for the first time. Soul Housing is a recuperative care provider dedicated to supporting individuals who are unhoused and transitioning out of the hospital. Through its programs, Soul Housing continues medical care for up to six months, helping ensure that internal medical needs are properly managed while clients recover in a stable environment.
For the organization, participating in the Thanksgiving giveaway represented a natural extension of its mission; addressing not only medical recovery, but also the broader social factors that contribute to long-term health and stability.
Leadership on the Ground and Community Recognition
Casey Reinholtz, CEO of Soul Housing, was present throughout the event, working alongside volunteers to bag groceries and hand out turkeys. Reinholtz accompanied Congresswoman Maxine Waters to greet families at the event and was honored with an Appreciation Award from the Jackson Limo Foundation for Soul Housing’s hands-on support.
“As we already work in the community world, we’re always looking for bridge builders, and Jackson Limousine is a bridge builder,” Reinholtz said. He noted that the event created an opportunity for organizations to come together in service of a shared goal. “For people like us in the community who need a place to go volunteer and do this sort of work inside the community, we’re just crossing over and coming over to help. And that’s a big part of it.”
Thanksgiving as a Moment of Unity
Reinholtz also emphasized the significance of the holiday as a time for collective responsibility and care.
“This is the perfect time for us all to come together and make sure that we are taking care of each other in this time of need,” he said.
That message resonated throughout the day as families expressed gratitude and volunteers reflected on the importance of meeting immediate needs with dignity and respect.
Extending Care Beyond the Clinic
During the event, Soul Housing was formally recognized by the Jackson Limo Foundation with an Appreciation Award, honoring the organization’s first-year participation, sponsorship, and hands-on volunteer support. The recognition underscored the value of partnerships that address both immediate community needs and long-term health and stability.
“It was an honor to be part of the Jackson Limo Foundation’s legendary drive,” Reinholtz said in a statement following the event. “I’m grateful to everyone from the Soul Housing family who showed up to bag groceries and hand out turkeys. We didn’t just want to help fund this effort; we wanted to help with our hands. And the thanks from families as they drove away were all the thanks we needed.”
Continuing a Tradition of Service
As the final cars moved through the distribution line, the success of the event underscored the power of long-standing traditions combined with new partnerships. With the support of sponsors, volunteers, and organizations like Soul Housing, the Jackson Limo Foundation continues to expand its reach and fulfill its mission of ensuring no one goes hungry; not just on Thanksgiving, but throughout the year.
More information about the Jackson Limo Foundation and its year-round initiatives is available at jacksonlimofoundation.org.