Emmy-winning television host Loni Love, of “The Real,” returned this year for Project Angel Food’s Thanksgiving meal delivery effort. (photo courtesy of Project Angel Food)

People who receive meals from Project Angel Food will get a special treat on Thanksgiving Day, with food prepared for delivery by celebrity volunteers such as Loni Love, Tyler Henry, Duff Goldman and Eileen Davidson.

Approximately 150 volunteers will gather today at Project Angel Food’s headquarters at 922 Vine St. in Hollywood to prepare traditional turkey dinners for critically ill residents. Volunteers will distribute the meals countywide to Project Angel Food clients.

Project Angel Food CEO Richard Ayoub said the meals are a lifeline for people suffering from HIV, AIDS, cancer, heart disease and many other life-threatening illnesses. Without Project Angel Food, many people might go hungry on Thanksgiving, he said. The meals include roasted turkey, vegetables, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and a slice of pumpkin cheesecake, all prepared under the direction of Project Angel Food’s executive chef John Gordon.

“This year, we are doing old-school, inside the kitchen cooking with celebrities and volunteers, and we are also delivering to the community with approximately 150 volunteers,” Ayoub said. “We are actually doing it all week, delivering Thanksgiving dinners to 3,000 people, which is an increase.”

Other celebrities helping with the Thanksgiving effort include Melissa Rivers, Kate Flannery, Rachel Harris, Rebecca Metz, chef Stuart O’Keefe, Amy Phillips, Juan Pablo Di Pace, Peter Porte, Lauren Tom, Sasha Ruiz, Michael Corbett and Jeffrey Drew.

Ayoub said this year’s Thanksgiving meal delivery effort is particularly special because the organization was unable to host a high-profile event in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although staff prepared and delivered meals to people in need last year, the organization was not able to welcome supporters in-person on Thanksgiving – a Project Angel Food holiday tradition.

“Up until the pandemic, 80% of the holiday work was done by volunteers, so it’s great to have them back,” Ayoub said. “I like to call the kitchen the great equalizer. This amazing, powerful kitchen doesn’t care if you are a CEO or a celebrity, a high school kid or a person in recovery. No matter who it is, when you are in the kitchen and scooping tater tots onto a tray, or green beans, there is no way you are not thinking about those who are getting the meal.”

Ayoub said the need increases every year, with more people turning to Project Angel Food to meet basic needs. The organization delivers meals to more than 2,400 people every day.

“On Thanksgiving, we provide more than we usually do,” Ayoub added. “We provide any client who has a caregiver or someone they want to spend the holiday with an extra meal so they are not alone.”

The Thanksgiving effort was sponsored by the Stanley and Joyce Black Family Foundation, Glamazon and 94.7 The Wave. Volunteers were selected in advance for Project Angel Food’s Thanksgiving deliveries, but Ayoub said there are many other opportunities to help throughout the holidays, and the rest of the year. Throughout November, Ralphs and Food for Less grocery stores will match monetary donations to the organization through Project Angel Food’s Fill the Fridge campaign. Ayoub said the need for monetary support is even greater this year because of increases in the cost of food and gasoline required for deliveries.

“We want people to know that we appreciate their support,” Ayoub added. “At Project Angel Food, every day is Thanksgiving, and I would love people to remember that we don’t just need help on that day, we need it the day before, the day after and all 365 days of the year. There are many ways to help, visit angelfood.org.”