KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | KMPH Viewers Give Back this Thanksgiving

KMPH Viewers Give Back this Thanksgiving

By: Ashley Ritchie

It started out with a KMPH news report.

"I was watching TV and as the news came on I saw some people need some help," Xavier Ortiz said.

"I watch you guys every morning and I'm a local guy," Lonny Anhorn said.

"We saw the broadcast a couple of days ago and there's people out there that are less fortunate than us," Sarah Wynn said.

And the stories of need around the Valley this holiday season literally hit close to home for some.

"I lost my dad in June and a lot of people helped me out with that. So I decided just to give back by giving what I can back to people," Ortiz said.

"I've been hungry before and I know that hunger is hard for people," Craig Dorey said.

Xavier Ortiz and Craig Dorey are two among many that sprung into action this chilly Thanksgiving morning; dropping off whatever food they could at KMPH for the hungry, inspiring others to do the same.

"I have extra. So if you have extra too, it would be nice if you could just stop by and do it," Ortiz said.

"I'm just down here to support the community. I know a lot of families are hurting this year," Anhorn said.

"It's Thanksgiving and one day I might need the help," Wynn said.

But the stories of selflessness don't stop there.

"We put Great Day on every morning in our clinic rooms. And as I was getting a patient ready I heard what they were discussing, how the turkey donations and the money had been down at more than 50% from last year," Serenina Quinn, a medical assistant at Regional Hand Center, said.

So the staff at Regional Hand Center in Fresno collected whatever money was in their wallets.

And Dr. Randy Adolph Galli matched it.

They were able to donate 25 turkeys to the Poverello House.

"We went down there, there's kids walking, it was sad," Yvette Calderon, surgery scheduler, said.

"It was just very sad. I've never seen anything like that before," Jessica Rivera, receptionist, said.

"We felt like we didn't help enough," Quinn said.

They decided to do more.

Instead of having their own company Thanksgiving party, Regional Hand Center donated that $1,500 to the Poverello House as well.

"We live at such a standard above other people from other countries, certainly there's room to dig in and give to others this time of year and to help them enjoy a little more of what life is about," Dr. Randy Adolph Galli said.

Throughout the last several days, more checks have been dropped off at KMPH to help local charities.

We want to thank you for reminding us of what Thanksgiving is all about.

All of the food is going to be packed up and delivered to Community Food Bank.

And they will then deliver it to other local charities.

In the meantime, the staff at Regional Hand Center says they plan on doing even more for the hungry this Christmas.