Children of the City rallies generous New Yorkers to distribute Thanksgiving Meals feeding over 700

Sunset Park based Children of the City rallied together over 100 volunteers from all over New York to distribute free Thanksgiving meals to needy families at their facility on Sunday November 23, 2008 feeding over 700 adults and children. 106 families came to the headquarters for Children of the City located at 740-40th Street, Brooklyn and received a full Thanksgiving meal which is a 25-lb box of food to feed a family of 6 and either a turkey or ham; another thirteen families received dinners the following day.

“According to America's Second Harvest, one in five people standing in line at a soup kitchen this Thanksgiving was a child. 1 in 4 children right here in New York City live in poverty” said Joyce Mattera, Executive Director and Founder. “It is shocking to grasp that every single night, more than 16,000 homeless children sleep in the New York City shelter system!” The Thanksgiving meals were generously donated by partners of Children of the City, including Here’s Life Inner City, Councilwoman Sara M. Gonzalez, Brooklyn Women’s Services, Basile Builders, and other individuals.

“Over 100 amazing adults and children from various organizations including Macy’s East, Harajuka Social Club, International School of Brooklyn, NYU, Baruch College, and Key Clubs from Brooklyn Tech HS and Fort Hamilton HS, came together to assemble the Thanksgiving dinners and distribute them to the families that were in attendance” said Joyce Mattera. “Children of the City was glad to facilitate this opportunity for generous New Yorkers to give back to families in need. We know these are tough economic times and we are glad for the opportunity to show that we care about the community we serve.”