Since early morning, this Monday, Angely Figueroa along with her two-year-old daughter, waited to receive the donation of a turkey in the Elmhurst community.
“It is very gratifying to be honest because, because we are going through a difficult situation, we are getting here, we don’t have anyone but well God is great and as I tell you, God can do everything,” explains Figueroa.
She and her daughter are just one of hundreds of families who benefited from the first-ever Thanksgiving event coordinated by the nonprofit, Community Center Services. With the support of different sponsors, they were able to give away 500 turkeys, clothing and offer information about services available to the community.
Evelyn Heilbron, President, CCSOC Organization comments:
“For me personally and for our entire team it is something wonderful because that is what we are here for, to serve.”
Apart from giving away turkeys to cook, dozens of volunteers and sponsors provided the traditional meal with baked turkey as well as typical dishes and desserts from different Latin American countries to enjoy at that time.
Lucy Aranguri arrived from Peru 6 months ago and this is her first Thanksgiving celebration in New York.
“Something new for me and most of all to share with my daughters and the family who are here and friends that I have made in this short time that I have arrived and most of all grateful to God,” says this Peruvian.
Lucy, it took 16 days to get to New York City from Peru and this Thanksgiving she will be able to enjoy with her sister whom she had not seen for 10 years.
“I never thought I would never arrive here in the United States and now the thing is to take advantage and work more than anything else because that is why we came,” he adds.
The annual celebration of Thanksgiving in the United States celebrates the harvest and other blessings of the past year. This date is modeled after a 1621 harvest festival shared by the Plymouth Pilgrims and Native American Indians.
According to the community, this event reaffirms the value of giving thanks for being with family.
“We are all brothers, we are all united, that is the good thing about us Hispanics, right? says Lorena Cruz, a Queens resident.
