A group is looking to bring Thanksgiving meals to residents in need this weekend.
The Atlantic City Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi has made it a tradition in recent years to provide turkeys to the Rescue Mission and Covenant House.
But this year, they will be bringing turkeys and ham directly to those in need — with some help from the Greenlife Energy Solutions and the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Foundation.
“We’re going directly to the families this year,” Kappa Alpha Psi Chapter President Paul Collier said.
It was the idea of new brother James Pressley, of Elder J.P. Ministries.
The need, he says, has been great.
With help from other businesses, the Sheriff’s Office and Greenlife, they have more than 250 turkeys and 250 hams to give out starting at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Second Baptist Church.
The giveaway is on a first come, first served basis. The requirements are that the recipient is an Atlantic County resident and must be 18 years or older with identification.
“We could use another 100 turkeys,” Collier said of fulfilling the local need. “We can’t take care of everybody, but we will do our very best to feed the people we can.”
Growing up in Camden, he said he saw poverty firsthand and knows the importance of providing a good holiday meal.
Atlantic County Sheriff Eric Scheffler said helping this way is the reason he sought his current position.
“Regardless of what people’s issues are in life, we’re here to help each other,” he said. “I’ve been able to use this office, this position, this uniform to help other people, and this is really my goal.”
His office’s foundation is not only providing some of the turkeys, they also are contributing 300 pounds of sweet potatoes, along with what they have collected through a canned food drive and a pans for cooking the meal.
Before the giveaway, Greenlife Energy Solutions will first be at the Turning Point Day Center to serve a Thanksgiving meal from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Angelic Health Feeding those in Need Service is sponsoring that even that will include baked/fried chicken, green beans, rice, baked ziti (turkey or beef), desserts and beverages.
Turning Point is located at 1717 Bishop Richard Allen Ave. in Atlantic City.
