Get a free meal, donate goods, or volunteer for Thanksgiving

Many options for the needy this holiday season

Want to get a meal on Thanksgiving, or volunteer, or donate supplies or food during this busy time?
Every year the Reporter offers a list of locations where people throughout Hudson County can go for a Thanksgiving meal if they cannot afford one, and ways to volunteer or donate if you’d like to participate.
We advise contacting the organization in advance to make sure the information is up to date. Here is our list for this year, by town.

Secaucus

Secaucus will provide complete meals directly to 50 homebound residents on Thanksgiving Day. The meals are being prepared by King’s Kitchen, as they have done annually for more than 10 years.
In addition, about 110 needy families have already received the ingredients for a delicious holiday feast. “We give them everything to prepare their own meals at home,” said Lisa Snedeker, director of Secaucus Senior and Community Services. “We distribute it to them the week before so it can defrost.” Anyone in need of a meal can contact Social Services at (201) 330-2014.
The Exceptional People of Secaucus (EPOS), a group of special needs adults formed earlier this year, will cook their own Thanksgiving dinner on Monday, Nov. 23. The menu will include turkey with gravy, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, carrots, and pies. The members are excited to cook their first Thanksgiving dinner together.

North Bergen and Guttenberg

North Bergen recently concluded its annual Emergency Relief Thanksgiving drive and will be giving out packaged meals to families in need on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at the Recreation Center, 6300 Meadowview Ave. Meals will include a turkey and all the trimmings: mashed potatoes, stuffing, canned vegetables, and dessert. Recipients were asked to preregister via Town Hall, and proof of residency is required upon pick-up.
The township is also providing cooked meals to preregistered seniors. Last year North Bergen provided about 300 meals to seniors and nearly 600 meals to families.
In addition, the Woodcliff Community Reform Church at 7605 Palisade Ave. is hosting its seventh annual Thanksgiving Day luncheon from noon to 3 p.m. in the gym. “We are planning a super delicious traditional meal, the whole nine yards” promised Win Powers, director of the Woodcliff Christian Harvest food pantry. The event begins with a special prayer service at 11 a.m. Then everyone is invited to enjoy a hearty meal, cosponsored by the Nicholas J. Sacco Foundation and CarePoint Health. Angela Evertz is the event founder and organizer and Efrain Evertz is the event organizer. Last year the church served about 350 meals and they are looking forward to increasing that number this year. Call (201) 869-4555 to donate or participate.
The Nicholas J. Sacco Foundation is also donating $500 each to about half a dozen local food pantries for the holiday season.
The town of Guttenberg is working with Saint John’s Parish and Anna L. Klein elementary school to provide Guttenberg’s families in need with a joyous holiday.

Jersey City

An annual Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Hudson Pride Connections Center was planned for Nov. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Jersey City Medical Center, 355 Grand Street.
The Jersey City Homelessness Advocacy Group and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church offer a pre-Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 21 starting at noon at 38 Duncan Ave. For information on donating or volunteering, contact via Facebook message or email TheJCHAG@gmail.com.
Councilman Khemraj Chico Ramchal is distributing turkeys and trimmings in conjunction with the South Hudson Civic Association on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Civic Association Headquarters, 686 Route 440 North. For more information visit southhudsoncivicassociation.org.
The Open Episcopal Anglican Church of the Incarnation, 68 Storms Ave., will host an annual Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 23 from 4 to 6.p.m. For more information call (201) 434-4810.
Youth to Wiser will help package and deliver a Thanksgiving dinner to seniors who are homebound or live alone as part of AngelaCares Inc. Feed the Seniors Thanksgiving program. They will also hold a dinner from noon to 7 p.m. on Nov. 25 at The Golden Door Charter School, 3044 John F. Kennedy Blvd. Call (201) 685-7273 or email project@angelacares.org if you know a senior who would like a meal, if you would like to contribute, or if you or your group would like to volunteer.
The Jersey City Corps of Salvation Army will hold its Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. at 562 Bergen Ave. For more information visit salvationarmynj.org/jerseycity or call (201) 435-7355.
“A Community That Cares for Families Thanksgiving Feeding” will be held on Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center, 140 Martin Luther King Dr. For donations (food, beverages, pastries etc.) call Rhonda Moore at (201) 279-3093 or email rhonda_moore@aol.com.
St. John the Baptist and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel will serve their annual hot turkey dinner with all the fixings on Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m at 3026 Kennedy Blvd. The dinners will be served in St. John’s school hall. Anyone who would like a dinner delivered should call Jimmy King at (201) 438-7041. Volunteers are needed.
Mo’Hair Foundation Inc. will hold its 19th annual Thanksgiving Feast for the Community on Nov. 26 from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. at 124 Storms Ave. Call (877) 664-2478 for more information.
The Iron Monkey Restaurant will hold its complimentary Thanksgiving Day Community Dinner for senior citizens or families in need on Nov. 26 from 11.a.m to 4 p.m. at 99 Greene St. Call Carol Pasquale at (201) 547-5750 for more information.
The Urban Mission Church Thanksgiving Day Dinner will take place on Nov. 26 from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. at 505 Newark Ave. Dinner is free to anyone who attends. For more information call (201) 217-4253 or email urbanmissionchurch@gmail.com.
The Jersey City Asian Merchants Association and the Jersey City Rotary Club are sponsoring 1,000 thanksgiving turkey meals to the needy between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Nov 26. The meals will be prepared by volunteers from Fountain of Salvation Church. Jersey City Youth Foundation donated the turkeys. Prepared meal boxes will be provided at many locations across the city and at JCEA, 1600 JFK Blvd. Eat-in meals will also be served at Fountain of Salvation Church, 324 Communipaw Ave. from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers who are willing to help can contact Riaz Wahid at (201) 669-7608 or riazonroad@yahoo.com.

Union City

This year the Brian P. Stack Civic Association plans to give out 21,000 turkeys, up from 20,000 last year. The association has been distributing free turkeys for over 30 years, with Mayor Stack delivering many of the birds personally door-to-door. “I started out by doing chickens when I was 14 and just expanded,” he said. “Anyone can request a turkey as long as the supply lasts.”
That includes residents of Jersey City, Hoboken, West New York, and Weehawken. Turkeys must be requested by Friday, Nov. 20, at 5 p.m. by calling (201) 362-1819, (201) 679-6854, (201) 951-5755, or (201) 951-1142 and leaving your full name, address, apartment number, and telephone number.
The Brian P. Stack Civic Association is also providing Thanksgiving meals from noon to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, including turkey and side dishes. The event takes place at five different locations throughout town:
– St. Anthony of Padua Church, 615 Eighth St. and Central Ave. (201) 867-8859
– Miftaahul Uloom Academy, 501 15th St. (201) 223-9920
– Robert Waters Elementary School, 2800 Summit Ave. (201) 348-5925
– George Washington Elementary School, 3905 New York Ave. (201) 348-5954
– Roosevelt School, 4507 Hudson Ave. (201) 348-5971
The meal is free. Volunteers are welcome to help serve food and should arrive by 11 a.m.
In addition, Palisades Emergency Residency Corporation (PERC) will provide a community Thanksgiving meal at their soup kitchen on Wednesday, Nov. 25, the night before Thanksgiving, at 6 p.m. A traditional meal of turkey, ham, stuffing, baked macaroni and more will be served. Everyone is welcome.
“Probably about 150 people attended last year,” said Executive Director Carol Mori. “Depending on the number of people this year we may do more than one sitting.”
PERC is located at 111 37th St. A regular nightly meal will be available on Thursday, Nov. 26. “There are a lot of meal options on Thanksgiving,” noted Mori. “I wish it was like that year-round.”
To donate or for more information call (201) 348-8150.

Weehawken

On Saturday, Nov. 14 Weehawken held its annual Seniors Thanksgiving Party in the community room of one of the senior buildings. About 175 seniors attended and enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal with dancing and entertainment.
In addition, the town delivers a full turkey meal with all the trimmings on Thanksgiving morning to about 150 residents in need.
“It’s not only a hot meal,” said Mayor Richard Turner. “It’s a friendly visit. The high school peer leadership group helps deliver the meals, along with the Girl Scouts and church catechism classes.”
The mayor and member of the town council pitch in as well, delivering meals and engaging in conversation with homebound residents. “It’s about reaching out and talking to them, seeing how they are, if there are any problems,” said Turner. “Some of them don’t get out often or come in contact with a lot of people. This could be their only visit on Thanksgiving Day.”
And for the kids, “It’s an education experience,” he said. “They see life can be tough for seniors.”
Park United Methodist Church at 51 Clifton Terrace started a food pantry about two months ago called The Light, offering food baskets every Tuesday and Thursday. They will host a “pie social” on Tuesday, Nov. 24 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
“We’re going to be giving pie and refreshments,” said Director Megan Mead-Bracknell. Rather than traditional Thanksgiving items they will provide baskets of food to take home and prepare. “In addition to regular staples like tuna, peanut butter, and canned fruit, we’ll customize it to their needs. For example we have baby food, baby formula, diapers. We also have personal care items, like soap, shampoo, deodorant; things typically not covered.”
There will be no food pantry on Thanksgiving Day. Instead they will offer a turkey dinner on Sunday, Nov. 29. An official dedication ceremony for the food pantry will begin at 11:15 a.m., with music and performances by volunteers. That will be followed by a traditional Thanksgiving meal at about 12:15 p.m. The event is open to all. Call (201) 867-9161 for more information, to donate, or to volunteer.

Hoboken

Hoboken has five locations that will serve free dinners to those in need this year, and the majority welcome volunteers and donations of supplies.
Every year the Walk the Walk charity holds a Thanksgiving dinner for the seniors and shut-ins in Hoboken. This year local buses will pick up about 100 seniors and shut-ins on Nov. 25 and the residents will be served home-cooked Thanksgiving meals from 3 to 7 p.m., made by the friends and family of the community. A Frank Sinatra impersonator will offer entertainment from 3:30 to 4:30. The event is held at the Senior Center in Hoboken, 124 Grand St. Volunteers are welcome. Call 201-739-9318 for more information.
St. Matthew Trinity Lutheran Church will host a Thanksgiving breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon on Nov. 26 with eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, and orange juice. For the last 35 to 40 years, the church at 57 8th St. has hosted the breakfast serving over 100 meals.“We’ve had a real focus of offering, for the homeless and marginally-housed, a safe space to come, sit, relax and recharge, and get some nourishment and hope,” said Rev. Rose Beeson, who has been a pastor at the church for the last year and a half. “There are so many people in the community that need help.”
In addition to breakfast, the Girl Scouts will offer freshly-baked pumpkin pies. St. Matthew’s welcomes volunteers and donations of food, as well as socks. For information call (201) 659-4499 or visit stmatthewtrinity.org.
Or, you can head to the Hoboken Homeless Shelter at 300 Bloomfield St. at 7:30 p.m. for a Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The shelter will not host a lunch this year due to the number of other meals available throughout the county.
The shelter welcomes donations of napkins and plastic utensils. They invite anyone to volunteer from 6 to 8 p.m. serving food, sorting donated clothing, and socializing with guests. Volunteers are required to bring donations and call (201) 656-5069 to register.
They recently received a grant for $332,674 for improvements to their facilities from the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), which shelter director Jacklyn Cherubini foresees will greatly improve future Thanksgiving proceedings.
“Renovations are going to be exciting, major projects will go on in the New Year. The biggest project I’m looking forward to is renovating the showers and also the emergency generator,” said Cherubini.
Mario’s Pizza Café will also continue their longstanding tradition, now in its 16th year, of serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at 742 Garden St. They will serve lunch and dinner to anyone in need from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 26.
“It all started years ago when people would come by asking for pizza and we’d be closed,” said owner Mario Albunia. “We decided that instead of that we’d serve a traditional dinner and have people come watch the football game.”
Volunteers are welcome for the annual Party with Purpose (PWP) Thanksgiving dinner for local needy children at the Boys & Girls Club, 123 Jefferson St., on Monday, Nov. 23. Volunteers begin to set up at 3:30 p.m. for the children to arrive at 4 for dinner, dessert, and entertainment through 5:30. For more information contact Alisha at PWPHoboken@partywithpurpose.org. Volunteers are invited to Little Town Social immediately following dinner for food and drink specials especially for PWP volunteers.

Art Schwartz may be reached at arts@hudsonreporter.com.

SIDEBAR

Where else to donate

Food donations for Thanksgiving can be made to a number of places throughout the county. These are some of the locations to donate for local Hudson County shelters and low income Jersey City families. For more information email Jessica@njsisterhood.org.

Drop off centers that will take donations 24 hours a day include the following:
Secaucus Meadowland EMS, 55 Meadowland Pkwy.
Union City EMS, 316 Sixteenth St.
Weehawken EMS, 201 Highwood Ave.
West New York EMS, 570 66th St.
Bayonne McCabe EMS, 666 Summit Ave.

Centers in Jersey City collecting Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. include the following:
Jersey City Hall, 280 Grove St.
Alpine Medical, 424 Central Ave.
Eye Contact Vision, 368 Central Ave.
Alpine Medical, 634 Summit Ave.
Alpine Medical, 2727 John F. Kennedy Blvd.

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