Action film star Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former governor of California, stayed true to his “I’ll be back” catchphrase and made his yearly return to Boyle Heights on Tuesday for the “Miracle on 1st Street” turkey giveaway at Hollenbeck Youth Center.
People lined up around the block as early as 2 a.m. to be one of the first to secure a turkey for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. An event volunteer said 1,000 turkeys were available to local families.
Manuel Padilla, 75, a Boyle Heights resident, said he arrived shortly after 8:30 a.m. He looked nervously at the line ahead of him, unsure if he arrived too late. Padilla said a turkey was all his family needed for their planned dinner.
“I don’t really want to be here, but the old lady sent me,” Padilla jokingly said. “She’s in charge and she told me to get the turkey.”
Inside, dozens of volunteers worked quickly to bag tortillas, fruits, carrots, potatoes and onions before the hundreds of people in line began to funnel in. Turkeys were laid out on tables as Roosevelt High School cheerleaders and two emcees energized the crowd.
Volunteers hand out food at 2024 “Miracle on 1st Street” turkey giveaway at Hollenbeck Youth Center. Photos by Andrew Lopez.
Actor and comedian Tom Arnold made an appearance and handed out food to the community. He was accompanied by his children and said the community response to the event surprises him every year.
“As we were pulling up, I said to my daughter, ‘It looks like a Taylor Swift concert.’ People are lined up around the block. It’s a good feeling. It’s good to be involved in this sort of thing for so many years. We have a lot of fun and we appreciate the Hollenbeck folks,” he said.
At the event stage, Schwarzenegger recalled the first time he visited Boyle Heights to donate and hand out turkeys 43 years ago at the Hollenbeck Youth Center.
“I had such a great time. It made me feel so good, that every year since then, I’ve been doing this. To me, it’s a great, great pleasure to donate the turkeys again… because I know this whole season is about sharing,” Schwarzenegger said. “I love America and America greeted me, as an immigrant, with open arms.”
Schwarzenegger talked about his first Thanksgiving in America after coming from Austria.
“When I came to America in 1968, I didn’t even know what Thanksgiving was… People from the gym just came to my empty apartment and they brought sheets, silverware, dishes, and food and a radio. The generosity of the American people was so extraordinary. I’ll always remember those things. That’s why for over 30 years I’ve been coming to the Hollenbeck Center handing out turkeys and donating the turkeys.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Soon after, the emcees took to the stage and asked the crowd, “Están listos para los pavos?”
People cheered and began to form a line to receive the turkeys.
Maria Garcia, 45, and her daughter Melissa, 13, got to Hollenbeck Youth Center at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday and left with a turkey and bags of vegetables. Garcia said the giveaway, which she and her daughter attend every year, takes off an enormous financial burden during the holidays.
“It’s a big help because everything’s expensive. I’m a single parent, so trust me, it’s a big help,” Garcia said.
As Schwarzenegger helped place a turkey in another woman’s cart packed with food, she couldn’t help but laugh as the action star declared, “Hasta la vista, baby.”
I’ve always liked and admired him. He’s kind and has a sense of humor. I thought him to be a good governor.