In North County, a full Thanksgiving dinner was served to those who might not have a home for the holidays. 

Dozens of people found relief and a warm meal offered by some volunteers with challenges of their own at the Interfaith Community Services nutrition center in Escondido Thursday afternoon.

“Believe it or not, leftovers, we’ll turn into soup,” said lead cook Bill Lewis. He has been creating menus in the center’s kitchen for almost 25 years. He started among the homeless and addicts desperate for recovery and the support Interfaith Community Services offers. Now he passes it forward.

“I reflect on how thankful I am that this place was here for me and I can only hope and pray that other people find the same blessing that I did thanks to this organization,” Lewis said.

Besides the home-cooked meal, Interfaith also distributed 340 turkeys and 10,000 lbs. of non-perishable food to families and individuals who needed it.

The non-profit, non-denominational organization means anyone can ask for help to stabilize their lives.

They have wrap-around services to find housing, employment, and any other basic needs.

Terri Bearer and her caregiver Mike Kluey were grateful to make it to a Thanksgiving table after surviving their own of difficulties.

“I went through their program and I’ve got two years clean and sober, off everything,” Kluey said.

Bearer has had health issues and he struggled with addiction.

“We found out about (the dinner) and I was blessed to come here. I’m not quite sure what I would have done, otherwise. Maybe find food on the street,” Bearer said.

J.D. Escobedo, 13, is a seventh-grade student who volunteered with his family to prepare and serve the dinner. He doesn’t have much experience in the kitchen. What he does have is heart and compassion. 

“I wanted to help others. People who don’t have a Thanksgiving, just give them something to celebrate,” he said.

His schoolmate Eva Hernandez, 11, and her family have reasons of their own for volunteering this year.

“We’ve been through some hard times. So, I just wanted to help people who have hard times get through it,” Eva said.

Bearer said she was grateful for the food and inspired by the families who volunteered to serve her.

“I’m a strong woman. I have two feet. Don’t crawl on your knees. Stand on your feet,” she said with a smile.

He’s one of the most famous black and white animals in San Diego and he just celebrated a very rare milestone. Best Friend is a male macaroni penguin at SeaWorld San Diego, and he just turned 40.

“I still think he looks quite dashing for 40 years old,” laughed Katie Belnick, one of SeaWorld’s zoological specialist for birds. “Every single day that I get to come and see him just warms my heart.”

Best Friend was hatched in San Diego in 1984. Belnick said the average macaroni penguin is lucky to live 15 years in the wild, 30 years in captivity. That makes Best Friend a rarity.

“It’s just a testament to the awesome care that we can provide these animals,” explained Belnick. “Conservation and having ambassador animals to represent those species is what we’re all about.”

Belnick and her coworkers at the famous Penguin Encounter said fewer than 1% of penguins live to see 40.

“Reaching 40 years old is an absolute humongous milestone,” she concluded.

White Best Friend is currently SeaWorld’s oldest penguin, he’s hardly the record holder. Belnick said they had an emperor penguin reach 49-years-old a few years ago.

County Sheriff’s deputies will be out in force starting Wednesday and lasting through Sunday looking to pull over and arrest impaired drivers during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the San Diego County Sheriff’s office said.

So far this year in San Diego County, nearly 900 impaired drivers have been arrested by deputies, according to a sheriff’s statement.

An arrest for impaired driving can cost more than $15,000 in legal fees, the statement said. And driving under the influence can mean more than just drinking alcohol. It also includes driving while using prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and marijuana and can impair drivers, especially combined with alcohol and other drugs.

The sheriff’s office stated that drivers should plan a safe way to get home before drinking by designating a sober driver and leaving their car keys at home. They also suggest using a taxi, ride-sharing service, calling a sober friend or family member or use public transportation.

And if drivers see an impaired driver on the road, they should call 911 or the sheriff’s office at 858-868-3200.

Funding for the Thanksgiving impaired driving enforcement program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.