Every year, the Hudson Reporter provides information about municipalities in Hudson County that provide Thanksgiving meals for the needy. This year municipalities and local organizations will be offering turkey deliveries and Thanksgiving meals for their senior citizens and those in need.
Secaucus
Secaucus planned to offer a Thanksgiving dinner for its senior citizens and the Senior center this Friday Nov 18 at 11:30 a.m., according to Mayor Michael Gonnelli. For more information on the senior dinner call senior services at (201) 330-2034.
This year he and city officials will also give out about 200 baskets of Thanksgiving meals to those in need. In order to get a basket an individual must call social services at (201) 330-2014.
On Thanksgiving day Gonnelli and the council will deliver 80 to 90 meals for shut-in families. He said Social Services keeps a running list of “shut-in families” and they are “typically people we know who they are.”
Gonnelli said his favorite part of the holiday, aside from eating, is delivering meals on Thanksgiving Day.
“It’s Thanksgiving,” said Gonnelli. “A day we all should be doing something and giving back.”
Countywide turkeys, and homeless shelter
Assemblyman Brian Stack hosted a party on Nov. 4 at Schuetzen Park to thank the members of his civic association and others who make his traditional turkey giveaway each year possible. The turkeys are available for anyone in his legislative district who needs one, and can be requested by calling the mayor’s office at (201) 348-5755.
“This year we’re going to give away 22,000 turkeys, not just to the needy in Union City, but to the needy anywhere,” Stack said.
The turkeys are paid for by the Brian P. Stack Civic Association.
The turkeys usually arrive by truck from various farms a few days before Thanksgiving, and are distributed by volunteers throughout the area. In some cases, volunteers deliver them floor by floor, apartment by apartment.
Stack, along with other officials and volunteers, will make house calls to deliver the turkeys and chat with residents in the week or so ahead of Thanksgiving.
The Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation (PERC), which runs a local shelter, recommends the community gets involved by donating from a list of shelter items on the organization’s website.
“We are always looking for motivated folks to host collection drives and place boxes in the common areas of their buildings, schools, offices, etc. to help us get the supplies we so desperately need,” wrote Sarah Fishtein of PERC in an email.
The organization is hoping to provide the needy with warm clothes and foods as well as toiletry items.
Those wishing to donate can select items off the organization’s two Amazon.com lists: https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/4QNT7V5Y3SVW/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go_v and https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/ref=cm_wl_search_rvp_wl?ie=UTF8&cid=AHZSI84IUVAZ1 or contact the organization at (201) 348-8150.
North Bergen
The Woodcliff Reformed Church at 7605 Palisade Ave. will be hosting its eighth annual Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day Nov. 24 in its gymnasium.
The dinner begins at 11 a.m. with a prayer service with a Thanksgiving meal served at a quarter to 12.
“We serve the whole nine yards because we get a lot of support,” said Win Powers, director of the Woodcliff Christian Harvest food pantry. “our volunteers list will probably be closed in a day or so.”
Powers said they served over 400 meals last year and only needs about 30 volunteers to help serve, cook, and clean.
“We are always looking for volunteers to help clients who are here and show the love of god,” said Powers.
For more information or to volunteer call the church at (201) 869- 4555.
North Bergen Cares is conducting their annual Thanksgiving Drive. The drive started Nov. 4 and was to end Friday Nov. 18. All those wanting to donate can do so at Town Hall at. 4233 Kennedy Blvd. On Nov. 21 the organization will give out turkeys and trimmings at the Recreation Center at 6300 Meadowview Ave to families in need from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Nicholas J. Sacco Foundation is going to donate $500 to local food pantries during the giveaway.
North Bergen is also coordinating with AngelaCARES to deliver home cooked meals to senior citizens on Thanksgiving Day.
“Thanksgiving is a time for family and no one should have to be alone and hungry on this special day,” said Mayor Nicholas Sacco. “I’m proud of the work North Bergen is doing to give back to our community this Thanksgiving, from the NB Cares program providing assistance to our Nicholas J. Sacco Foundation donating to help local food pantries, to partner organizations like AngelaCARES helping to make sure we take care of our seniors. I wish everyone a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving.”
For more information on North Bergen’s Thanksgiving offerings contact the mayor’s office at (201) 392-2005.
Marilyn Baer can be reached at marilynb@hudsonreporter.com.