HOWARD BEACH — A flock of 3,700 turkeys and chickens will reach families in time for Thanksgiving — a record number for Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens’ annual Turkey Drive.
On Nov. 18, CCBQ hosted its ninth annual turkey drive, which received about 700 more birds than last year. CCBQ President and CEO Msgr. Alfred LoPinto said the combination of the organization’s renovated resource center and a new distribution system that has parishes pick up and distribute the turkeys and chickens themselves are welcome changes to this year’s drive.
“Previously, when we would do a distribution of turkeys in Brooklyn and Queens, the lines would keep getting longer and longer, unfortunately,” Msgr. LoPinto said. “I decided this year, rather than do that anymore — because I thought it was extremely disrespectful to have people put in that situation — let’s work with the parishes.”
Thirty-five parishes placed pre-orders with CCBQ for up to 100 turkeys or chickens. Representatives from each parish then picked up the birds for them to be distributed personally. To help with the heavy lifting, a few members of the NYC District Council of Carpenters volunteered their time.
Deacon Jean Rameau of the Holy Family-St Laurence Parish in Canarsie left with 90 chickens for his parish and described the new system as the “best way” to ensure “everyone gets their fair share” of the donations.
“We have a multi-language community, English, Creole, and Spanish,” Deacon Rameau said. “We tap into all three communities and identify the people in need so we can do the best we can for a fair distribution.”
He explained that the parish has an interview process to determine who receives a turkey or chicken. From those interviews, he learned that his community members’ resources are more limited around this time of year.
“I have a 90-year-old blind lady who called me and asked, ‘Is Catholic Charities going to do anything for me this year?’ … So I am going to deliver turkey for [them],” Deacon Rameau said.
Peter Bermingham from Local 18A of District Council 16, said participating in the drive was important because Thanksgiving is all about giving to those in need.
“I feel great being here. This is for a great cause,” Bermingham said. “We have clothes, we got chickens, we got turkeys. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
CCBQ Senior Vice President for Mission Richard Slizeski said he is pleased the organization has taken steps to make the drive more efficient. “There’s a sense that you’re not alone, scrambling,” he said. “It’s important that people feel that they’re being tended to, but also accompanied through this.”
Msgr. LoPinto emphasized that each Turkey Drive is special, and he is grateful for the collaborative efforts of CCBQ and its volunteers. “It is important that people, especially families, have the resources they need. These are very difficult times,” Msgr. LoPinto said. “We are feeding on a monthly basis, probably
10,000 individuals and families.
“People are hurting, and this is one way of saying, ‘Here is some support.’ ”
