Restaurant serves a tradition of giving
By Laura Genao
INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT

HAVERFORD - It was a family affair. Children squealed with delight as a Mighty Morphin Power Ranger came around the tables. Mothers and children took to the dance floor for family renditions of the "running-man step." And fathers and sons took turns playing the video game "Cruis'n"

For 120 of Delaware County's homeless and sheltered residents, Al E. Gator's Restaurant on Lancaster Avenue yesterday provided the perfect place to have a Thanksgiving dinner with entertainment.

"When this is over, people talk about it for months," said Tom Kavitski of the Community Action Agency, a nonprofit social-service organization that contacted residents about the event.

The fifth annual feast was a miracle of coordination between various community agencies, according to Al E. Gator's manager David Sagherian. This year, the restaurant solicited its vendors and received free turkeys, salads, soups, potatoes, pies, and even quarters for the video games so that all could enjoy the Thanksgiving feast. Delaware County Human Resources found residents in need, and Community Transit of Delaware County found volunteer drivers and vehicles to take residents to the restaurant. "It's not a big thing, and its fairly simple for everyone to do," Sagherian said. "Even our chemical guy donates a days's worth of cleaning supplies."

For families, the Thanksgiving dinner was a chance to relax for a while and enjoy the moment.

"Circumstances have brought us all here together," said Evangeline Clendenin, 47, a resident of the Family Management Center in Chester. "We're sharing a very warm, generous Thanksgiving." Clendenin was thankful for a traditional Thanksgiving meal in a year when she couldn't prepare one herself. Her 11-year-old son, Thomas was thankful too. "I'm thankful for the food, basically," he said. "I think when I get done, though, I'm only going to have room for one dessert." His choice was tough as he'd be picking from apple pie, coconut cream pie, and giant trays of sugared cookies.

For others, the carnival-like atmosphere of costumed employees, balloons and music was enough to break the cycle of daily monotony.

"I liked seeing the alligator," said 3-year-ols Narnee Golson. "It was big."

Service at the restaurant was efficient too. With 50 employees volunteering their time at the event, there were more than enough employees for the number of people who came. "We have a 3-to-1 ratio," Sagherian said. Most had been at the restaurant early, carving turkeys, serving beef vegitable soup, and washing dishes. John Kleinstuber, a manager at Al E. Gator's Restaurant in Valley Forge, found himself washing pitchers, dishes, glasses and silverware yesterday. "It's a tradition to be here at Gator's on Thanksgiving." he said. "It makes the day and it makes you feel good."

Even non-employees caught the restaurant's volunteer spirit. John Paul Murray, a high school student in Haverford, volunteered to wash dishes because he's a friend of an employee. "It's nice to be with your family, " he said, "But its a holiday for them as well as for me."