First-ever Kindsgiving to provide meals to local residents

Due to the pandemic, many people – especially seniors and those who are immunocompromised – may be alone this Thanksgiving. A community coalition aimed at brightening the holidays is hosting the first-ever Scotch Plains-Fanwood Kindsgiving this year to provide hot meals and some cheer to those unable to see their loved ones.

The group consists of The Beacon Initiative, Rotary Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains, Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA and Darby Road. The goal of Kindsgiving is to unite our community for the good of the individuals who live here.

"It's easy to overlook how hard COVID social isolation rules must be on our community members whose main socialization comes from their trips to community centers like the Y and to visit family,” said Talib Morgan, executive director of The Beacon Initiative. “As we enter our second wave, it's clear there's an increasing risk to seniors and the immunocompromised that makes it likely many of our community members will celebrate Thanksgiving by themselves. Kindsgiving is an opportunity to pull together to help our neighbors celebrate the holiday without feeling so alone - to let people know they're valued as part of this community. The community spirit is alive and well in our towns and Thanksgiving is a perfect time to demonstrate it. I'm so excited to be a part of this program."

Added Julie Murphy, president of the Rotary Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains: “We’re thankful to be involved in this project to continue helping our neighbors during the pandemic. So far, we’ve provided masks, PPE and support for food banks; and companionship is another important need during this season.”

Residents of Scotch Plains and Fanwood are encouraged to get involved in Kindsgiving in one – or all - of the following ways:

• SPONSOR a meal for an individual in our community who may be alone this year and help make their holiday brighter. One meal costs $15, two meals cost $30, three meals cost $45, and so on. Or, donate any amount, big or small, to help brighten Thanksgiving for community residents. The coalition is working with local community organizations to identify these individuals. Any remaining donations after Kindsgiving will be given to a local food bank to help fight hunger in our community.
  
• PURCHASE an individual meal for yourself, a neighbor or a friend who may be alone this year from the coalition’s community business partner Darby Road. All orders can be made through Darby Road’s website and you can choose to pick up the meal yourself or have it delivered. Meals must be purchased no later than November 19.
  
• JOIN the community Kindsgiving virtual celebration via ZOOM on Thanksgiving Day at 1:00pm and celebrate the holiday with friends and neighbors. Those without access to a computer can also call in to the Kindsgiving celebration.
  
• VOLUNTEER to help distribute Kindsgiving meals either the day before Thanksgiving or on Thanksgiving Day.

“Now, more than ever, it’s important for us to come together as a community and take care of our neighbors,” said Kim Decker, chief executive officer of the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA. “Kindsgiving is simple at its core; it’s a time for us to set aside our differences and unite to focus on what’s truly important: being there for one another.”

Further information on participating in Kindsgiving - including participating in one or all of the options above - can be found online at www.Kindsgiving.com. For more information on Kindsgiving, please contact Talib Morgan at talib@thebeaconinitiative.org.

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The goal of the first-ever Kindsgiving is to unite our community for the good of the individuals who live here. When we work together and help one another, we make Scotch Plains and Fanwood better for all who call our towns home. Our coalition is made up of local organizations and businesses who keep kindness, compassion and unity at the forefront of all that we do. Happy Thanksgiving to all our neighbors and friends!