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Show Westminster College of Salt Lake City Volume 36 m-- 4 k OmrcJi Serves Homeless 'JS. Wayne Owens displays holiday spirit by helping homeless enjoy Thanksgiving. By Tony Sanas , food-lin- , Waiting out in the cold for the doors to open, homeless men, women and children waited paintiently for a warm meal. The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 279 So. 300 W., hosted approximately 1,000 people on Thanksgiving Day. Bill Kandas, director of the project, said the endevor started when the church called Saint Vincent's Shelter to i and Utah, with the help of Coca-Col- a own version Ski Utah, Inc. now has its very of Cherry Coke. On Tuesday Nov. 22 at the pavillion in Trolley Square the Coca-Col-a Bottling company of Salt Lake City and Ski Utah,. Inc joined together to introduce Utahns own soft drink "Cherry Sizzlers". The "Cherry Sizzler" product will be distributed statewide. The label on the 2 liter bottles and 12 ounce cans of Diet and Regular Cherry Coke -- . ( Chris Ritzakis carries on with tradition by serving food to homeless on Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving at Hectors -- a specific geographic area," said Vigos. If the idea is accepted well in Utah, Coca-Col- a may introduce the success to other states with their own geographic Interest in mind. Lt. Governor Val Oveson said, "The idea Is a partnership to promote the greatest drink." snow on earth with an Oveson continued to say "a great company, a great promotion, in a great state." The message of Cheny Sizzlers is to all-seaso- ns a great company, a great promotion, in a V. Oveson great state." "... -- have the infamous logo "Ski Utah" with an illustration of a skier heading down a slope. Bob Bailey of Ski Utah, Inc. said "The colorful, bright, lovely, label is what Cherry Sizzler is about, that's what skiing Utah's all about." The graphics were done by Jane Coker, a commercial artist from Atlanta, Ga. "This is a historic first, for the entire t e. soft drink industry," said Richard Vigos, Bottling of general manager of Coca-Col- a Sizzlers is Salt Lake City. "Cherry being test to serve idea is the marketed here in Utah, , T-A- t''K Utahs Own Cherry Coke By Chris Bamberger 1 V Orthodox Church, Orthodox parishioners and local businesses. The menu was standard for the day and people were welcome to take extra helpings out with them. The homeless were not the only people served that day. People without families shared their time and services with the homeless and, in turn, received meal and the feeling of a home-cooke- d belonging. see if they needed any help. Kandas said the people at the shelter needed a day off and Thanksgiving was the perfect day for the Orthodox church to help. Rep. Wayne Owens (D, Utah), arrived with his family to volunteer their time with the project. Owens said he came because he "thought it would be a good experience for our two sons. It has made Thanksgiving very interesting." The congressman washed dishes while his U I ? - , . 5 9 t family served the many people anxioulsy waiting for a good meal. Vast Katsikathas, AWSC Speaker of the House, was a server at the event. She said . "I just want to help out and do something good for the community." Basil Chelemes said that he thought it was his duty as an Orthodox Christian to help out. Other Greek Westminster students helping out included Andrea Zoumadakis Also from and Mike Katsanevas. Westminster, Gia Piganilli. was there so she could make herself "feel like (she) deserved to eat on Thanksgiving." The Very Reverand Joachim Hatsidakls, Dean of the Salt Lake Greek Orthodox Churches, said the church does this because "Thanksgiving should be a special day for everyone. For some, it wont be without at least a warm meal." Hatsidakls said that he tried to construct an atmosphere of warmth and family gathering. He said that is why the homeless are served rather than walking Hatsidakls added through a that the people feel more "welcome and part of a family" when they are sat down and served.' Kandas said the church hadbeen hosting Thanksgiving dinners for the past three years and hopes to expand the project into Easter as well. Kandas also said food preparation started two days before the event when 58 turkeys were prepared. At about 2:30 p.m., all of the turkey had been consumed and more had to be brought in from the Salt Lake City area Salvation Army. The food for the dinner was donated by the Greek December 6, 1988 Issue 11 perpetuate Utah's image, enhance a great, great state with a great, great product," said Fred Ball of The Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. Coca-Col- a is a sponsor of the Utah Winter Games as well as the Coca- - Cola Cup which stages competitions for amateur skiers at all of Utah's major resorts. including the Salvation Army and various local churches and shelters which are now providing the same service during the Chris Ritzakis knows what it is like to holidays and various other times throughout be in need. In 1963, as an Immigrant each year. "I never thought the idea would from Greece, he was alone and unemployed. Thousands of miles away from create the comrtiotion that it has, though his family, he had no money , and was I'm pleased to see lt has done so," Ritzakis surrounded by people who spoke a language said. The fact that, in the past three years he could not understand. He remembers Ritzakis has had financial problems and the coldness of the holiday season that year. had borrow the money necessary to to has It was painful to be so alone. his Now, 25 years later, Ritzakis, owner purchase the food, emphasized believe in morals. humanitarian People of Nectors Restaurant, 979 So. State Kris Ritzakis. a volunteer Llacopoulos, Street, has been serving Thanksgiving Dinner for the past 16 years to the helped in this year's project, said that homeless and people in need in the Salt several people who were inspired by Lake City area. What he once longed for he Ritzakis' service to the community came into Necotrs on Thanksgiving to offer their now provides, and in a very special way. "I know what its like to be alone and help. have no money during the holidays," "People get great satisfaction from Ritzakis explained. "Ive been there. Its an being involved. The needy prople who awful feeling. As long as I have my come in are so appreciative of being Inside restaurant. Ill find a way to serve a warm environment and having a decent Thanksgiving dinner to those who have meal to cat," Llacopoulos said. "Chris nowhere else to go." always makes sure they get enough to eat In the first year of what has now too. Most of the people leave with food become Ritzakis holiday tradition, Nectors they can eat later on." "When you see these people and Restaurant prepared two turkeys and side dishes of equal proportion that served 35 to realize that such poverty could happen to 40 needy people. Now his menu has grown anyone, it makes you count your blessings. to include 50 trukeys, 17 pans of stuffing, There are a lot of people out there who hundreds of yams, jars of cranberries, soup, really have nothing," she went on to say. Last year Ritzakis received donations salad and 20 pumpkin pies which was 1 ,700 of Utah's feed to some from 3,000 people in the Utah area which needy, enough shut-in'to fund a Christmas dinner. The Ritzakis were who 450 were used including was the originator of the idea that has lack of financial support this year however spread to many other charitable may make the community service on organizations in the Salt Lake area Christmas impossible. by Lisa Kalantzes s. |