COMMUNITY

PHOTOS: Salem’s Thanksgiving at the Mission

Volunteers put on Thanksgiving meals for guests at Salem’s Union Gospel Mission and the ARCHES Project Thursday.

A plate full of the typical Thanksgiving food awaited guests at the Union Gospel Mission Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 24 in Salem. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Guests could choose between homemade apple pie and pumpkin pie at the Thanksgiving dinner at Union Gospel Mission in Salem. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Megan McFadden, volunteer, serves a table of guests at the Union Gospel Mission Thanksgiving Dinner in Salem on Thursday, Nov. 24. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Ron Juarez, volunteer, was kept busy bussing tables and pouring beverages at the Thanksgiving dinner at Union Gospel MissionThursday, Nov. 24. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
It is not glamorous work, but it is necessary. John Freeman and Scott Cole, volunteers from Roberson Motors were busy washing dishes at the Thanksgiving dinner at Union Gospel Mission in Salem Thursday, Nov. 24. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Eric Jones prepares more turkey for serving in the kitchen at the Union Gospel Mission Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 24 in Salem. Mr. Jones is a graduate of the New Life Fellowship program, which he credits for helping him become employed at UGM and he feels has improved his life. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Clemente Porras, volunteer, sweeps up after the first shift of Thanksgiving diver at the Union Gospel Mission in Salem on Thursday, Nov. 24. When asked why he volunteered to work today, the answer was “just because.” (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Dennis Tipton sits down to enjoy a piece of pie after a busy morning of helping serve food to guests at the Union Gospel Mission Thanksgiving Dinner in Salem Thursday, Nov. 24. Mr. Tipton is graduate of the New Life Fellowship, which helped him escape his gambling addiction and provided him a job working at UGM. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Steven Garcia carves off a piece of pumpkin pie for a guest at the Arches Project Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, Nov. 24 in Salem (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
A guest and her canine companion at the Thanksgiving dinner at the Arches Project Thursday, Nov. 24 in Salem (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Jerry Barza breaks down tables after the Thanksgiving dinner at the Arches Project on Thursday, Nov. 24 in Salem on Thursday, Nov. 24. Jerry has volunteered for many years for the Arches Project and feels it is the right thing to do. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Jerry Barza and Rhonda Iken take a minute to relax after serving thanksgiving dinner to guests at the Arches Project Thursday, Nov. 24 in Salem. Rhonda has volunteered for many years and The Arches Project as she used to work at Fairview Training Center and sometimes sees people she knew there. Fairview was closed in 2000. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
A woman receives a sock “care bundle” from a family who brought them to give away to guests at the Arches Project and other locations on Thursday, Nov. 24 in Salem. The care bundle included a pair of high-quality warm socks, a pack of sanitary wipes, hand sanitizer, and Kleenex. The mother said it was her son’s idea to assemble the bundles and give them away. (Laura Tesler/ Salem Reporter)

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Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.