Operation Gobbler Giving feeds local families with turkey giveaway

For the eighth year in a row, Reaching-Out Community Services brought the thanks to Thanksgiving with its annual Operation Gobbler Giving turkey giveaway.

Volunteers took to New Utrecht Avenue on Monday, November 23,  once again to provide low-income families in the neighborhood with a Thanksgiving meal.

“The only thing I can say is that nothing is possible without the people that support this type of event,” said Executive Director of Reaching-Out Thomas Neve. “We always like to mention names because it’s not Reaching-Out that makes it happen, it’s the people that contribute to it.”

This year the organization was able to help over 475 families, according to Neve, because of contributions from the Food Bank for New York City, City Harvest and the Rotary Club of Verrazano that provided 180 additional turkeys.

CPEX Real Estate Services and the Transit Managerial Benevolent Association also contributed to the cause.

“Without [those contributions], these families, we wouldn’t have been able to serve them,” stressed Neve. “There were so many other individuals that dropped off turkeys and some local business that contributed also. They make it happen. We’re the car, they’re the fuel.”

“Now, we’re just getting ready for Operation Christmas Smiles, so it keeps on going,” he added. “We just want to keep the good going.”