Oceanside Community Service welcomed about 60 supporters on Nov. 6 for its annual Harvest of Giving dinner, a fall fundraiser that helps sustain the volunteer-run organization’s year-round efforts to support local families in need. The evening, themed to reflect the spirit of Thanksgiving, brought residents, donors and community partners together in a show of generosity.
This year’s event, at Alias Smith & Jones, featured raffles and a 50/50 drawing as well as dozens of donated baskets from local families and businesses.
“And then there were some community members who just generously donated to us,” said Laura Lisi, an OCS volunteer and co-chair of the dinner. “Some people who couldn’t make it event sent a direct donation. It’s so kind.”
The fundraiser plays a vital role in sustaining OCS programs, which include a weekly Friday food pantry, emergency financial assistance and seasonal holiday support.
The dinner also served as a moment for the community to reconnect.
“As much as it was a fundraiser, it was also a time to just gather,” Lisi said, noting that OCS is a 100 percent volunteer organization strengthened by residents who continually show up for their neighbors.
“Oceanside is a really special community, and they always rise to the occasion to help us out,” Lisi said.
For more than seven decades, OCS has provided food, clothing and financial assistance to Oceanside families facing hardship. Its Friday food pantry offers both pickup and delivery options, and its holiday programs — including full Thanksgiving meal deliveries and a toy drive — ensure families are supported during the most difficult times of year.
The group’s Mission Thanksgiving 2025 effort centers around the belief that “No one should go hungry on Thanksgiving.” Working with Oceanside High School on its annual Turkey Shoot, volunteers collect and deliver complete Thanksgiving meals directly to households on the holiday.
OCS President Bob Transom said the organization has hosted the dinner for about 30 years, interrupted only by a three-year break during the pandemic. Through its long history, the mission has remained constant — helping families navigate social service challenges by offering food, covering occasional rent or utility payments or stepping in during housing emergencies.
“We try to help steer people in the right direction,” Transom said. “If someone is homeless of just got evicted, we put them up in a hotel until their situation with social services is cleared and they find housing. We do what we do because we don’t want anybody to suffer.”
As the holiday season approaches, the “Harvest of Giving” dinner continues to anchor the community’s support for OCS, ensuring its programs remain strong for the families who rely on them each year.
