5,000 Homeless Get Hot Thanksgiving Meal At Los Angeles Mission

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) —Thousands of homeless men, women and children were treated to a meal at the Los Angeles Mission's annual Thanksgiving dinner from the hands of some of L.A.'s most famous chefs.

This year's meal was cooked by a team including celebrity chefs like Michael Voltaggio of Ink including Charm City Cakes' Duff Goldman, Melissé's Josiah Citrin and BS Tanqueria's Ray Garcia.

Chef David Thomas, who has served as Food Services Director of the mission for the past 16 years, was the first person in the kitchen Wednesday, overseeing the preparation of sweet potatoes and yams, green beans, and of course, turkey. Thomas said the annual Thanksgiving event reminds him of his own tough times.

"I think about when I was out there using drugs and alcohol, and I had a place to come to get a hot meal – the Los Angeles Mission," Thomas said.

In addition to the feast, which is sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank, attendees can get their feet washed and get new socks, blankets and free tarps to survive the colder winter months.