SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – For many, Thanksgiving brings images of a large turkey dinner with plenty of potatoes, stuffing and more, but for some Syracuse residents, a big Thanksgiving meal is not a certainty.
That is where The Table Food Pantry in Syracuse is trying to help. The Table will be hosting their Thanksgiving food giveaway on Saturday, Nov. 21, so that local residents in need of food can have a nice meal for the holiday.
“We are going to be giving out our normal bundle of food, plus a whole extra bundle of food, specifically for a Thanksgiving meal,” said James Bonney, the co-director of The Table.
The extra bundle of food will include turkeys, stuffing, potatoes, fresh fruit and even pies. The Table also said the event is open to anyone that is in need of food, including college students that are struggling to afford groceries.
The Thanksgiving giveaway also represents The Table’s one-year anniversary. Since beginning service last year, the thing volunteers have enjoyed the most is the impact they have been able to have on the community.
“A lot of people have been very thankful, especially because of the pandemic and grocery stores limiting the quantity and different kinds of things you can purchase,” said Tiffany Paddock, a volunteer at The Table. “I think we’ve really been able to reach out to our community through this pantry just by giving them as much food as we can.”
Paddock also said that one of those most rewarding aspects of volunteering is being able to get her whole family involved.
“My kids are all involved in the food pantry,” Paddock said. “They all love to come and serve the community. They love to get to meet new people and feel like we’re making a difference in our community.”
Last year, the Thanksgiving giveaway was the first event The Table hosted, and they served about 240 families. Now, one year later, they are hoping to triple that number.
“We’re open for an extra hour because we think our volume is going to be a lot more,” Bonney said. “We typically serve anywhere from 300 to 400 families on any given giveaway. We’re expecting over 700 families this giveaway.”
Typically, a giveaway runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on a Saturday, but in anticipation of more families to serve, The Table is extending its hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the Thanksgiving giveaway. The event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21, in the Living Word Church parking lot in Syracuse.
Anyone looking for more information on the Thanksgiving giveaway can visit The Table’s website.
