500 Bloomfield Families Get Free Thanksgiving Meals

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — When it was over, more than 500 Bloomfield families took home Thanksgiving turkeys and baskets with pie, string beans, stuffing, and cranberry sauce during an annual event that returned for the holidays last weekend.

Mayor Michael Venezia spearheaded his 4th annual turkey give-away event on Sunday at Town Hall, calling it the “biggest yet.”

Registration for the drive opened in October. The Bloomfield Department of Human Services coordinated the event, which was a community effort.

According to a township news release:

“450 turkeys were purchased at the cost price from Brookdale Shoprite. 75 turkeys/side dishes were donated by the Shauger Group. Columbus Specialty Hospital donated 500 pies and Knock Knock Give a sock donated 5,000 pairs of socks. On the day of the event, the Shauger Group came with an additional 100 baskets. Columbus Specialty Hospital donated 500 pies. At the conclusion Sunday’s giveaway, there were six turkeys and 20 side dishes left over that were donated to the Montclair Human Needs Food Pantry.”

“Having lived in Bloomfield my whole life, I know that our community loves to come together to give back to those in need, especially during the holiday season,” Venezia said. “This was our biggest Turkey give-away yet, which was really humbling and heartwarming.”

The mayor thanked people and groups including members of the Division of Human Services, the Recreation Department, Department of Public Works and Parks, the Division of Public Safety and the Township Council, as well as sponsors ShopRite and Neil Greenstein, the Shauger Group, Columbus Specialty Hospital and Knock Knock Give a Sock.

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