Charity Thanksgiving Feast Continues Following Founder’s Death

At the William L. Hixon Feed the Children and Families Thanksgiving feast, up to 800 people will be served a meal of turkey, stuffing, homemade gravy, roll, corn and pie Thursday afternoon.

Now in its 16th year, the feast was renamed after Imperial Beach/South Bay Kiwanis club member . After his death there was question of whether the event would continue, but his son. Bill Hixon Jr., and Aaron Ruiz, director of the Boys and Girls Club of South County, Imperial Beach, organized the event.

“In 1995, I taught a cooking class at the Boys and Girls Club,” Hixon Sr. told Imperial Beach Patch last year. “While teaching kids how to prepare and serve food, I noticed they looked forward to eating the food.

“Some even said they did not get a dinner at home. Most said they had to fend for themselves with whatever was available,” Hixon said.

After seeing the need, Hixon promised his class a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. 

Bill Hixon Jr. worked alongside his father to help put the event together in the past, but never realized how much his father did.

“It was hard you know cause he did a lot of stuff and never said anything to anybody and now that were here and realizing, wow, he did a lot,” Hixon Jr. said. “Now I know how much he went through.”

The varsity basketball team, Otay Ranch High School varsity volleyball team and Mater Dei High School varsity soccer team all helped serve food. The Mar Vista High School junior varsity and varsity soccer teams helped set up the event Tuesday in the Boys and Girls Club gymnasium.

San Diego Chargers cheerleaders will also be in attendance.

“It’s a full sit-down menu and everyone who comes in is full-on waited on. they never have to get up,” Hixon Jr. said.