"Michael Gagne, the board president of Tenderloin Tessie, is a busy man around this time of the year. During a recent call with Mission Local, he was simultaneously on hold with a food vendor, waiting to place an order for Thursday's "Holiday Dinner." "We started preparing on November 1 - I'm currently ordering salads for pickup for next Wednesday," he explained."
"Tenderloin Tessie got its start and name from bartender and performer Perry Spink (drag name Tessie), who handed out free turkeys to Tenderloin residents on Thanksgiving in 1974. From there, he began hosting monthly dinners for the community and distributing gift bags with donated items. Spink died in 1984, but his community outreach continues through Tenderloin Tessie's board members and volunteers."
"Since taking on the president's role in 2004, Gagne has modernized Tenderloin Tessie based on the community's needs. He started with digitizing organization-related paperwork and information and then added features to the holiday dinners themselves, including live entertainment, clothing donations via a partnership with St. Anthony's and free services. "We go above and beyond," said Gagne. "We're also the only place left in town that does not treat people like cattle and have them go through a buffet line," he said. "We serve them at the table.""
Michael Gagne coordinates Tenderloin Tessie's holiday dinners and began preparations on November 1, including ordering salads for pickup. The dinners take place at the First Unitarian Universalist Church at 1187 Franklin St on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Each dinner averages about 1,000 attendees and may see higher turnout due to current food stamp disruptions. Tenderloin Tessie began in 1974 when Perry Spink handed out free turkeys and hosted community dinners; Spink died in 1984. Since 2004 Gagne has modernized operations, digitized paperwork, added live entertainment, partnered with St. Anthony's for clothing donations, and provides table service and free services.
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