Giving Back and Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Meal 2018 at SCS WIth Help From Officers of the 108 Precinct

Nov. 19, 2019 By Michael Dorgan

Local organizations are embracing the Thanksgiving spirit this holiday season through a number of charitable events.

The Sunnyside Post in conjunction with Major World Auto will be donating 200 turkeys to Woodside residents on Nov. 21.

The event is scheduled to take place at the Woodside Houses Community Center, located at 50-19 Broadway, between 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is being co-organized with the help of Sunnyside Community Services. There will be one turkey available per family.

“We want everyone to have a great Thanksgiving,” said a Major World representative. “We hope this brings happiness to a lot of local families.”

Christian Murray, publisher of Sunnyside Post, said: “We aim to make sure that Woodside residents get to enjoy a traditional feast.”

The Long Island City-Astoria Lions Club and the Hunters Point Civic Association will continue its ever-growing Thanksgiving Food Drive this year.

Unlike other initiatives, donations here are gathered through Thanksgiving and then disseminated to Hour Children, Center of Hope and St. Rafael’s Food Pantry.

“The donation drive is well under way with collection boxes already sent to 35 buildings,” according Civic Association president Brent O’Leary.

“This year’s goal is 5,000 pounds of food and critical items but we may reach 40 buildings so we could get up to the 6,000 pounds mark.”

About half the buildings are located in Queens including Long Island City, Sunnyside and Jackson Height, some of which are managed by the Emerald Guild and the Hibernia Provident Society.

“Our big sorting party is on Dec. 6 between 4 – 7pm and we will have about 80 people from the local Girl Scouts, Carpenters Union, and ILoveKickBoxing come together at St. Mary’s Church in LIC to re-box and re-sort the items for delivery,” O’Leary said.

“It’s a lot of fun and everyone is invited.”

“Then the following morning the Woodside-Sunnyside Runners group plan a run to the church at 9 a.m. and load the delivery trucks.”

Food delivered to local food pantries by Hunters Point Civic Association

City Harvest, New York City’s largest food rescue organization, kicked off its annual Repack to Give Back event in Long Island City last Friday.

During this week-long event, hundreds of New Yorkers from companies across all five boroughs are volunteering at their Food Rescue Facility on 55-01 2nd St. in Long Island City to repack rescued fresh produce and non-perishable food into meal boxes for those in need.

Repack to Give Back is set to run through Friday, Nov. 22.

The youth ministry of Queen of Angels church located at 44-04 Skillman Ave. in Sunnyside is also hosting its annual “Operation Give Thanks” food drive for the needy. They are collecting canned food, packaged food and drinks through Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28.