Groups In NYC, NJ Give Back, Serving Thanksgiving Meals To Those In Need

HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Several groups across New Jersey and New York City spent Thanksgiving Day serving festive feasts to those in need.

On Manhattan's Upper West Side, abject hunger and need intersected with kindness and caring, CBS2's Scott Rapoport reported.

The Goddard Riverside Community Center served 1,500 Thanksgiving meals with all the trimmings.

One of them went to Abdul Omar.

"I don't have any place else to go. This is the best place to go," he said. "I have no family here."

More than 300 volunteers cooked, carved and delivered full trays with full hearts.

"This is something to make everybody feel good about themselves and the community," volunteer Theresa Wong said.

The folks at Goddard have been doing this for more than 30 years.

"The need is very, very great. You know one in four children is going to bed hungry every night in New York City," Executive Director Stephen Russo said.

"We're letting them know that people care, and to not give up," volunteer Doris Finkle said.

The community center also has a home delivery program that brings 500 meals to those with limited mobility every day of the year free of charge.

Typically, most Thanksgiving meals are lunches or dinners, but the Second Reformed Church in Hackensack served up a hot breakfast Thursday morning, WBCS 880's Kelly Waldron reported.

"We found that there is a real need for breakfast, and it's one of those meals that on Thanksgiving and during the holidays, it's often overlooked," said Chris Rossica, of the Salvation Army, who conceived of the idea six years ago.

More than 200 families, seniors, the working poor, and others in need showed up for pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausage.

Valerie, the single mother of an  8-year-old daughter, said she was grateful.

"I can be with my daughter and say thanks, because the most important thing for me is my daughter, my child" she told Waldron.

In Somerville, Tom O'Leary said he and his family lived in the back of his pickup truck for six months in 1981.

"On holidays, all the places were closed. I could remember sitting in the truck crying, because we had nothing to give the kids or animals," he said.

So when he started the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program (SHIP), he vowed to help as many people have a decent holiday meal as he could.

SHIP will serve about 200 people from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. 

Meanwhile in New Brunswick, Jim Zullo, of Elijah's Promise, said he's seen the number of those in need increase over the years.

"When people pay rent, when they pay utilities, when they pay transportation costs, or health care costs, there often isn't a lot of money left over," he said.

So he's offering turkey and trimmings to anyone who walks through the door.

Elijah's Promise will serve about 250 people from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

Back in New York City, Reverend Al Sharpton and the National Action Network opened the doors at their headquarters in Harlem to help serve lunches to those in need early Thursday afternoon.

Sharpton was joined by public advocate Tish James, Esaw Snipes, the wife of Eric Garner, and other local officials. 

Garner's mother, Gwen Carr, spoke with 1010 WINS' Andrew Falzone about how hard the holidays can be after losing a loved one.

"I have lost my son and you know, I just wish he could be here today," she said.

However, family helps keep her going.

"Even though we've lost a loved one, we still have loved ones here that need us, who depend on us," she said.

More than 1,000 volunteers helped "God's Love We Deliver" make sure that sick and home-bound families in New York City and Hudson County in New Jersey had a happy Thanksgiving.

From stacking and stuffing to distribution and delivery, the volunteers prepared more than 4,400 meals for people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life altering illnesses. The group also prepared guest meals so no one had to eat alone on the holiday.

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