There are and have been numerous turkey giveaways and food donations in Queens as Thanksgiving approaches and as many families face food insecurity this holiday season.
Councilwoman Nantasha Williams (D-St. Albans) announced that the St. Albans Deliverance Temple, led by Bishop Matthew Johnson, will have a Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway Thursday, Nov. 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ahead of the dinner, which will be at 205-14 Hollis Ave., the church will accept donations of to-go containers, water, canned soda and prepared dishes. People interested in attending or donating toward the event may call Bev Garcia at (347) 495-5359.
Williams and Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman (D-St. Albans) are co-sponsors of the Bhalo Thanksgiving Drive on Monday, Nov. 24, at Major Mark Park, located at 173-175 Hillside Ave. in Jamaica, starting at 10 a.m.
There will be halal goat and halal turkey while supplies last. People may register for the event at bit.ly/BHALOThanksgiving.
Bhalo means good or well in Bengali.
Williams also announced that she, along with Tuff Active, an activewear brand; Black Lives Matter Sports; and the Southern Queens Parks Association are sponsors for a Turkey Giveaway on Friday, Nov. 21, from 4 to 7 p.m.
The event is at the Roy Wilkins Recreation Center at 177-01 Baisley Blvd. in Jamaica. The giveaway is on a first-come, first-served basis.
New Greater Bethel Ministries has teamed up with the WBLS “Steve Harvey Morning Show” and the Acts of Random Kindness organization to host its annual Thanksgiving Turkey and Sides Giveaway in Queens Village, Tuesday, Nov. 25, starting at 10 a.m.
There will be a limit of one turkey and one bag of sides per family at the giveaway, to be held at 215-32 Jamaica Ave. Steve Harvey’s show will promote the event on WBLS at 6 a.m.
“It’s especially important in these times that the church rise up and fill the gap when families are struggling,” the Rev. John H. Boyd II, senior pastor of NGBM, said in a statement. “The Bible tells us, ‘The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.’”
The church said everyone is welcome to attend the giveaway.
National Grid has joined forces with 10 food banks and pantries across the state to help combat food insecurity for families facing economic challenges and is contributing $275,000 in funding to support their efforts in providing essential food assistance.
Two organizations providing food in the borough are The Campaign Against Hunger and the nonprofit UA3, which each received $20,000 from the utility, said a National Grid spokesman via email.
“National Grid has once again demonstrated what it means to stand up for New Yorkers in times of crisis,” said Melony Samuels, CEO and founder of the The Campaign Against Hunger. “Their generous support enables us to reach more families in Brooklyn and Queens who are struggling to put food on the table.
UA3 President Don Hong said it will be able to provide food-insecure families with turkeys and fresh vegetables.
“National Grid’s Food Assistance program, coming at this challenging time, is a huge relief,” Hong said in a statement. “Rising food costs, the stoppage of benefits and the holiday season have stretched our resources to the max.”
The utility’s Grid for Good volunteers will hand out food at Queensborough Community College’s Lucille A. Bova Food Pantry in front of its administrative building, located at 222-05 56 Ave. in Bayside, on Nov. 21, from 2 to 3 p.m.
GfG volunteers will also assist with food distribution by teaming up with City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica) and Resorts World New York City’s Nourish Our Neighbors Holiday Distro at 165-90 Baisley Blvd. in Rochdale on the first floor across from 99-cent store in the shopping center, today, Nov. 20, starting at 11:30 a.m.
Macerich, the company that owns Queens Center, will team up with the Variety Boys & Girls Club at the mall, located at 90-15 Queens Blvd. in Elmhurst, to distribute 1,250 turkeys, on Nov. 20, starting at 10 a.m.
The Boy’s Club of New York continued its emergency food relief efforts on Nov. 15, at its clubhouse, at 133-01 41 Road in Flushing.
The BCNY gave away 226 meals with either turkey or pork shoulders, along with 156 $25 grocery cards to all BCNY members, said a BCNY spokesman.
The Gateway JFK Business Improvement District held its second annual food drive at 160-49 Rockaway Bvld. in Springfield Gardens on Nov. 14.
James Johnson, executive director of GatewayJFK, told the Chronicle the BID gave away 600 chickens, fresh produce and hot meals.