Over 200 turkeys given to those in need
By Jessica Meditz
jmeditz@queensledger.com
Cityline Ozone Park Civilian Patrol and the Richmond Hill-South Ozone Park Lions Club volunteered to help distribute the turkeys.
Last Friday, Nov. 18, residents of Woodhaven and its surrounding communities lined Woodhaven Blvd. to pick up turkeys just in time for Thanksgiving.
The Turkey Giveaway, held by Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and Zara Charitable Foundation, distributed around 180 turkeys to locals that evening.
Zara Charitable Foundation, which is committed to lifting up families in need around Queens and the world, purchased the turkeys to supply.
Civic organizations Cityline Ozone Park Civilian Patrol (COPCP) and the Richmond Hill-South Ozone Park Lions Club (RHSOP) volunteered to help distribute the turkeys.
The event was the first of its kind public-private partnership for Assembly District 38.
Citing the 20 percent increase in the cost of turkeys this year, Rajkumar noted the importance of assisting her constituents at this time, so everyone can have a worry-free and blissful Thanksgiving.
“Thanks to the Zara Charitable Foundation, we are able to provide so many families with the Thanksgiving that they deserve, and it has been a priority of mine to handle food insecurity coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic and with unemployment,” she said.
Following Friday’s giveaway, Rajkumar and her team secured 36 additional turkeys to distribute to constituents, making it well over 200 turkeys given away.
On Saturday, Rajkumar co-sponsored the NYPD Desi Society’s Turkey Giveaway in South Ozone Park.
On Monday, she partnered with the Richmond Hill-South Ozone Park Lions Club and local businesses for a turkey giveaway at Sofia’s Pizza, and donated 10 turkeys to the Parents Association of PS 254Q, who will distribute them to members of the school community.
She will also partner with the American Pakistani Advocacy Group for a Halal turkey giveaway Wednesday, November 23 at 108-19 101st Avenue in Richmond Hill at 3pm.
“Now more than ever, constituents need turkeys, and I’m happy to supply that. In the past two years, we’ve been serving our constituents in so many ways, through food drives and giving away so much — this is just one part of that,” she said.
