Safeway And Events DC Partner To Host 19th Annual Feast Of Sharing, A Thanksgiving Celebration Providing Hope For 5,000 DC Neighbors

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- For the 19^th consecutive year, Safeway and Events DC are celebrating the season of giving by providing a festive holiday meal for thousands at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Serving residents from throughout the DC area, this beloved annual event will also feature a community services expo to include free flu shots, health screenings and haircuts, and a clothing giveaway.  The doors open at 9:00 a.m. with a traditional turkey meal being served from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

More than 5,000 city residents are expected to attend the Safeway Feast of Sharing, which brings together 1,000 volunteers and a host of community partners, including SunTrust Bank, The Salvation Army National Capital Area Command, Unity Health Care, Centerplate/NBSE, PROjection Presentation Technology, Metropolitan Baptist Church, Hi-Tech Electric, Digital Conventions and more.

"Every year, Safeway looks forward to presenting a delicious meal and a joyous celebration to the thousands of neighbors who join us for the Safeway Feast of Sharing," said Tom Lofland, president of Safeway's Eastern Division. "We are grateful to our community partners and volunteers for helping us to produce this cherished holiday tradition. It is a pleasure and a privilege to give back to our community, not only during the holiday season but all year long."

"Giving back to the community, is a cornerstone of our mission at Events DC and with the beginning of the holiday season, we look forward to serving our residents in need," said Gregory A. O'Dell, president and chief executive officer of Events DC.  "Safeway Feast of Sharing has become a treasured tradition for the District, and we look forward to opening our doors, each year, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, to our residents and volunteers.  This annual event is supported by the commitment of our local partners, and we are thankful for their continued generosity each season."    

Elected officials and special guests expected to attend include Councilmembers Elissa Silverman (At-Large), Jack Evans (Ward 2), Brandon Todd (Ward 4), Charles Allen (Ward 6) and Vincent Gray (Ward 7); Washington Redskins Alumni Gary Clark and Santana Moss, the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders, and D.C. hometown boxer Swift Jarrett Hurd, the Unified Junior Middleweight Boxing Champion of the World.

The Joint Armed Forces Color Guard Military District of Washington will present the colors, and Betty Entzminger will sing the National Anthem. R&B band LA Young featuring the Unusual Suspects will provide musical entertainment.

While the Thanksgiving meal is the highlight of the day, Safeway Feast of Sharing also includes a community services expo featuring a wide array of services and information, such as free health screenings, free flu shots from Safeway pharmacists, complimentary haircuts and manicures from Bennett Career Institute, door prizes and more

A clothing distribution will take place from noon until 3 pm, featuring generous donations from partners, such as Macy's, who donated a gift card for the purchase of winter coats, and fashion designer Lara Akinsaya and her organization, Runway for a Cause Foundation – Gift Pantry, who is donating several hundred winter clothing items.  

About Safeway
Safeway and its Eastern Division are part of Albertsons Companies, one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. The Eastern Division operates 113 stores in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and Delaware. Albertsons Companies operates stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs, as well as meal kit company Plated based in New York City. Albertsons Companies is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2017 alone, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the company gave nearly $300 million in food and financial support. These efforts helped millions of people in the areas of hunger relief, education, cancer research and treatment, programs for people with disabilities and veterans' outreach.

About Events DC
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation's capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District's hospitality and tourism economy that hosts more than 1.7 million visitors and generates more than $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the RFK Stadium-Armory Campus (RFK Campus), including Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Festival Grounds at RFK Campus, the non-military functions of the DC Armory and the Skate Park at RFK Campus. Stay current on the 190-acre RFK Campus Redevelopment Project at www.RFKCampus.com. Events DC also built and serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. Events DC manages Gateway DC, R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center and is building the Entertainment & Sports Arena (www.ESAontheRise.com), all conveniently located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com and find us on social media – Facebook (Events DC), Twitter (@TheEventsDC), and Instagram (@EventsDC).

SOURCE Events DC

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