Love For Turkeys: Thanksgiving Spirit Resonates In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — Turkeys are the language of love in New Jersey’s largest city, it seems.

Several groups and organizations held Thanksgiving drives and turkey giveaways across Newark this year, reaching out to their neighbors in need with not only food – but friendship.

Here’s a quick recap of a few smile-inducing holiday events held in Newark for 2023. See Related: Thanksgiving In Newark: Parking, Trash, Court, City Services

3,600 TURKEY DINNERS

The City of Newark, the ShopRite of Newark and several community partners teamed up to give away 3,600 Thanksgiving turkey dinners to local residents on Monday.

The distribution event was held at Newark’s Training Recreation Education Center (TREC), located at 55 Ludlow Street. The distribution was free and open to the public via drive-through and walk-up.

“Thanksgiving is particularly meaningful in Newark because it is a city which unites to give,” Mayor Ras Baraka said.

“The ShopRite of Newark is proud to donate hundreds of turkeys each year to the city to make sure that neighbors who are struggling can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal,” owner and operator Neil Greenstein agreed.

The event also celebrated a donation milestone of 2 million meals for HelloFresh’s “Meals with Meaning” program, which is held in partnership with the city. This outreach program began at the beginning of the coronavirus shutdown in April 2020, providing free meal kits to Newark residents facing food insecurity. It continues to this day, with volunteers packing and distributing 1,300 boxes per week at locations rotating through the city’s five wards.

In addition to the 3,600 turkeys distributed, HelloFresh provided 3,600 side dish kits, a holiday recipe card, and an extra pasta and pesto dish.

The event was also sponsored by Colavita, Table to Table, and WSL Produce House.

“This means the world … to come out here and celebrate with turkeys,” said Alia Clark, who received a holiday meal for her family.

“It means so much to our neighborhood and community,” Clark added. “A lot of people that will get these are homeless, or don’t have turkeys, or money to even buy turkeys. So, this is like a blessing to our community for you to come out and support us.”

COPS TALK TURKEY

The Newark Department of Public Safety held a free Thanksgiving giveaway in front of Newark Public Safety Headquarters at 480 Clinton Avenue on Tuesday. The event was sponsored by Newark Interfaith and the National Action Network.

That same day, employees with the Essex County Sheriff’s Office delivered hundreds of turkeys and holiday meals with all the trimmings to schools, churches, pantries, domestic violence victims’ shelters and homeless shelters located throughout the county. Officers also stocked the shelves of three food pantries in Newark: St. John’s Soup Kitchen, Sisters of Charity and the New Hope Baptist Church Food Pantry. Read More: Essex County Police Hold Another Successful Thanksgiving Food Drive

On Wednesday, the department and the Newark Police Foundation gave a free turkey to 200 families during an event on Lincoln Avenue in the city’s 2nd precinct.

Also this week, Newark Police Metro Division Commanders Captain C. Segarra and Executive Officer Lieutenant T. Best donated Thanksgiving turkeys to YMCA Newark’s Community Engagement Director Leah Marotta. The donated turkeys were sponsored by East Ward Council Member Michael Silva.

FRIENDSGIVING

In advance of the Thanksgiving holiday, local nonprofit United Community Corporation (UCC) held another successful “Friendsgiving” distribution event this week, hooking up 270 local families with a full holiday meal with a choice of meat – and all the fixings.

The distribution event took place on Tuesday at the West Side Park Community Center.

The event underscored the challenges that many households across Greater Newark face this time of year when it comes to food accessibility. In 2022, 17 million households across the U.S. reported being food insecure, a significant increase from 2021(13.5 million households) and 2020 (13.8 million households), advocates said.

Food accessibility is an issue that hits close to home in Newark, where sections of each of the city’s five wards have been designated as “food deserts” according to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

• See Related: NJ Has 1.5 Million People Living In 'Food Deserts,' Officials Say
• See Related: Newark Is Investing $2M To Fight Hunger, 'Food Deserts'

“The significance of giving back to the community during the holiday season cannot be overstated,” UCC executive director Craig Mainor said. “It’s about fostering a sense of dignity and grace for every individual.”

This year’s event saw support from the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Saint James Health, the state Department of Health, United Way of Greater Newark, North Jersey Community Research Initiative, FedEx, the Newark Vulcan Pioneers, Peoples Choice Lounge, Newark Centers of Hope, Essex County, the state Office of the Attorney General, and UCC’s partner Amerigroup.

ART AND TURKEYS

Newark council members Michael Silva, Luis Quintana and representatives from Fairstead joined Essex Plaza residents at a mural unveiling event on Tuesday.

About 300 turkeys were handed out to residents later in the event ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, organizers said.

Essex Plaza I is home to almost 500 low income seniors ages 62 and older.

This fall, Fairstead partnered with local community development nonprofit Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District to issue a call for muralists to beautify the lobby of the historic Essex Plaza I. After an intensive review process, the artist Gregg Banks’ “Scenes From The City of Newark” was selected to adorn Essex Plaza’s newly revitalized lobby. As a part of his selection, Banks will be awarded a muralist stipend of $7,500. Read More: Newark Building's Lobby Needs A Mural, Artist Stipend Offered

RECORD-SETTING GIVEAWAY

The Mercy House in Newark recently joined with Mercy House locations in Jersey City and Elizabeth to distribute a record 540 free turkeys and side dishes to families in need during the Archdiocese of Newark’s largest-ever Thanksgiving giveaway.

The breakdown includes 80 turkeys in Elizabeth, 250 turkeys in Jersey City, and 210 turkeys in Newark on Nov. 15, 20, and 21.

Despite the brisk weather, visitors patiently waited in long lines outside each location, where Mercy House staff and volunteers provided the turkeys along with one bag of side dishes like stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. Everyone went home with all they needed to prepare a Thanksgiving meal — something many may not have afforded to do otherwise.

“Thanksgiving is a special time for both families and the nation, which underscores the significance of our annual giveaway,” said Annette Miller, associate director of The Mercy House, who coordinated donation efforts for the giveaways.

“It remains important for us to organize this event each year because the rising cost of food is a challenge for many people and may prevent them from celebrating,” Miller said. “Thankfully, this year we saw an outpouring of donations from parishes, schools, and individuals, and we are very grateful.”

“It’s wonderful to see so many people pulling together to help those in need,” Miller added.

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