Boston

Boston City Leaders Feed Homeless on Thanksgiving

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Police Commissioner William Gross helped serve up hundreds of Thanksgiving meals to the city's homeless on Thursday.

The turkey dinner complete with all the classic side dishes was served at St. Francis House, a downtown shelter that serves more than 500 men and women every day.

"It's really gratifying to come and talk to people that are down on their luck," said Walsh. "That have been living on the streets of Boston. To show them that we love and support them."

While helping to carve turkey with the mayor, Gross said he was thankful to pay it forward.

"I'm feeling thankful for everyone that paved the way for me so I could be here in this capacity as the 42nd commissioner and to pay it forward for all the folks that help my mother raise me," said Gross.

St. Francis House President Karen LaFrazia said the holiday is bittersweet.

"So many of our folks are so grateful for the opportunity to be able to come to St. Francis House. But it's in the shadow of what they don't have," LaFrazia said. "They're estranged from their families, they're disconnected in many ways, so the sweet part is that they feel welcome and loved and embraced by St. Francis House."

At the Pine Street Inn, Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara also lent a helping hand by delivering pies.

"It's very important to me to visit these people and to kind of brighten up their days," Chara said.

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