You are reading

Local Groups Deliver 1,000 Thanksgiving Turkeys to 1,000 Families in Queens

A number of local non-profits and community groups came together Thursday to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys to hundreds of families in need across the borough. (Photo provided by Queens Together)

A number of local non-profits and community groups came together in Astoria Thursday to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys to families in need (Photo provided by Queens Together)

Nov. 22, 2021 By Michael Dorgan

A number of local non-profits and community groups came together in Astoria last week to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys to hundreds of families in need across Queens.

A large truck stocked with 1,000 turkeys rolled up outside the Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens (VBGCQ) Thursday morning. Around 35 volunteers were at the 21-12 30th Rd. location to unload its contents.

The turkeys, which were packed in boxes, were then distributed by the volunteers to families in neighborhoods such as Astoria, Long Island City, Woodside, Sunnyside, Jackson Heights, Corona, East Elmhurst and Jamaica.

Organizers said that 1,000 turkeys were delivered to 1,000 families throughout the day.

“It’s been a difficult time for so many,” said Jonathan Forgash, co-founder and executive director of Queens Together, a non-profit which organized the turkey delivery. Queens Together works with restaurants and food pantries throughout the borough.

Forgash said that there was a lack of turkeys being donated to families in need this year so Queens Together stepped in to help meet the demand.

“Communities were not getting the turkey donations they would normally get this time of year,” Forgash said.

The non-profit joined forces with Kaufman Astoria Studios, Innovation QNS, Sysco Foods and TF Cornerstone to purchase the turkeys.

Queens Together organized the delivery of the turkeys Thursday while its volunteers – and volunteers from various local community groups – were on hand to distribute the turkeys to families throughout the borough.

“We teamed up and found a way to give 1,000 families a delicious Thanksgiving,” Forgash said.

A large truck packed with 1,000 turkeys, pictured, rolled up outside the Variety Boys and Girls Club Thursday (Photo provided by Queens Together)

Some of the groups that helped in the distribution efforts included VBGCQ, Zone126, Freemason Lodge 586, Dominico American Society of Queens and the GPK Foundation. Volunteers from Solid Rock Seventh-day Adventist Church, Rock Safe Streets, Linden & Lebanon Seventh-Day Adventist Churches and Rosedale Civic Association also took part.

Assembly Member Jessica Gonzales-Rojas, Council Member-Elect Tiffany Cabán and former Council Member Costa Constantinides also helped distribute the turkeys.

Constantinides, who is chief executive of VBGCQ, said the turkey donations demonstrated the true spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday.

“These turkeys will ensure many families celebrate their holiday with a good meal this year,” Constantinides said.

Meanwhile, Tracy Capune of Innovation QNS and Kaufman Astoria Studios, said families in Queens continue to face extraordinary challenges due to the economic fallout from COVID-19.

“People in Queens will always support each other, and we are grateful to pitch in and do what we can to help,” Capune said.

Volunteers who took part in distributing Thanksgiving turkeys to families in need in Queens Thursday (Photo provided by Queens Together)

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

May races in Queens: JFK Airport 5K, Forest Park trail classic and a Queensborough 5K

May. 16, 2025 By Paulina Albarracin

The energy of May is on full display across Queens, with a lineup of local races that invite runners of all levels to hit the pavement and the trails. With mild temperatures and sunny skies setting the stage, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the spring weather before the summer heat sets in. From the Forest Park 4 Mile Road and Trail Classic to the festive Great Hawaiian Luau 5K at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, these events offer more than just a workout—they foster community spirit and personal growth. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen before lacing up and heading out. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or new to the sport, these May races offer a chance to challenge yourself and connect with others in motion.

Two women shot at Ocean Bay Apartments in Far Rockaway, gunman still at large: NYPD

Police from the 101st Precinct in Far Rockaway are looking for a gunman who shot two women at the Ocean Bay Apartments in Arverne on the night of Saturday, May 10.

The suspect is seen on video surveillance at around 9:35 p.m. approaching the southeast corner of the NYCHA complex at Beach 54th Street and Arverne Boulevard, where he pulled out a handgun and opened fire at a group of people, striking two women before running off. When officers responded to a 911 call of an assault in progress at the complex, which is also called the Oceanside Apartments, they found the two victims: a 34-year-old woman who was shot in both legs and a 32-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to her leg. EMS responded to the location and transported the victims to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where they were both listed in stable condition.

Op-ed | Justice for all delivery workers: It’s time to close the grocery pay gap

May. 15, 2025 By Rev. Dr. Phil Craig 

While one’s worth is not determined by an abundance of possessions, our faith teaches us that all workers deserve a just living. However, for many people in our communities, the way our laws are written are keeping them from enjoying equal pay for equal work. This is especially true for New Yorkers who support themselves and their families doing delivery work — and we stand alongside our lawmakers who are looking to change that.