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EAST FLATBUSH – The record inflation currently plaguing the U.S. economy has taken a toll on Yvonne Roman’s grocery budget, so she says, “I haven’t bought meat in ages. It’s too expensive.”
But Roman, despite the bird’s high price of $2 a pound (up 73% from last year), will eat turkey for Thanksgiving – thanks to Catholic Charities Brooklyn & Queens (CCBQ). Monday, Nov. 21, at Holy Innocents Church in Flatbush for a free turkey giveaway.
Bishop Robert Brennan came to the church that morning and helped hand out turkeys to hundreds of people lined up in the cold on the sidewalk around the church.
Roman, who brought a cart with him to put the turkey, said he was happy with the food donation.
“It means the world to me,” he said. “I can have a happy Thanksgiving because of this.”
More than 1,000 people — including those who arrived before sunrise — lined up around the entire block of Holy Innocents, patiently waiting to receive the turkeys. Inside the front gate of the church, the distribution resembles a smooth-running assembly line with an army of CCBQ people moving the recipients.
Debra Hampson, CCBQ’s senior director of community services, said the organization is on track to distribute 650 turkeys Monday, but she added that no one will go empty-handed because when the turkeys run out, people will be given vouchers to process them. Thanksgiving food shopping.
“There is such a great need. “We’re seeing more of a gap between inflation and gas prices this year,” Hampson said. “The number of our warehouses has doubled, and the price of turkeys has skyrocketed. So we’re very grateful to be able to do that.”
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, prices for Thanksgiving meals, including turkey and all the side dishes, are up 20% this year compared to 2021.
Turkeys provided by CCBQ Continuing a seven-year family tradition of giving back are Al and Maria Catanese. Also, Ace Endico, EJ Electric, Empire BlueCross/BlueShield, New York City Council of Carpenters, Steamfitters Union and Univision Nueva York Contigo made donations to make the day a success.
Bishop Brennan said he noticed a long line as soon as he arrived.
“When we were driving well before the distribution started, we could see the line,” he said. “This is a very long line,” I thought. I realized that, in fact, the line went around the corner and down the next block.
Bishop Brennan, who is distributing turkeys for the first time in the Diocese of Brooklyn, said that while the turkey distribution was notable, it was par for the CCBQ course.
“It’s special because it’s a holiday, Thanksgiving. But the reality is that Catholic Charities is always involved with people through our parishes and through various programs in the parishes,” he explained. “It’s a special event for a special day, but it’s a year-round relationship.”
After receiving the turkey, Yvette Payne said she felt relieved, saying the worry about how to pay for Thanksgiving was lifted.
“It’s nice of them to do it for us,” he said.
Monday’s Thanksgiving turkey giveaway was the third this month for CCBQ. On November 15, the organization visited two sites — Presentation of the Virgin Mary Church in Jamaica and Our Lady of Corona Church. A total of 2,100 turkeys and coupons were distributed between the two locations.
Father Patrick Keating, CCBQ’s deputy chief executive officer and chief financial officer, said the organization is “simply trying to fulfill the gospel message of ‘I was hungry and you fed me.’ “
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