By Calvin Dudley SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) —Thanksgiving is right around the corner. The holiday is centered on food, but not everyone can afford to have a nice meal. Because so many people have a hard time making ends meet for food, a number of local groups are doing their part to help out.
One group which provides food to the hungry throughout the year is The Food Bank of Central New York. The Food Bank serves 11 counties in the CNY area. In those 11 counties, over 181,000 people are food insecure according to FeedingAmerica.org.
Lynn Hy, the Chief Development Officer at the Food bank, says food insecurity impacts so many different kinds of people, including those who are not impoverished.
“Hunger in America looks really different, and it often happens right behind closed doors… and it’s children, its families who are struggling to make ends meet… they’re living paycheck to paycheck, and they’re making decisions you know ‘am I going to pay this bill or am I going to buy food?” said Hy.
At a much smaller level, the River of Life Church, located at 750 James Street in Syracuse, makes sure people can enjoy a nice Thanksgiving meal. The church is giving away 500 free turkeys for the 14th year in a row this Saturday.
“We will honor everybody that comes through this door. We will treat everybody with dignity and with respect. Many people cannot help their situation. We are here to help and give,” said Don Page, the deacon of the church and director of the giveaway.
In years past, the church has given away up to 1,000 turkeys, but Page says that the 1,000 turkey giveaway had an industrial feel to it. Page says that the church now gives away 500 turkeys, no more, no less. However, a hard-line at 500 means that some people who wait hours in line will not be able to receive a bird.
Page says he understands that some people might go home disappointed, but has a simple response to running out of turkeys.
“That’s why they invented 2019. We’ll get some more. We’re trying to keep it perpetual,” said Page.
Doors open to the church starting at 9 a.m. this Saturday.
