By Sophia A. Niarchos
Oyster Bay, N.Y- At Holy Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church in Brookville, N.Y., on November 21, St. Catherine’s Philoptochos and youth from JOY, Jr. GOYA, and GOYA collaborated to assemble Thanksgiving Drive donations for families in need. Chapter President Sofia Zachariadis explained the connection between giving thanks and charitable giving.
“One way to give thanks is to provide for those less fortunate from our own blessings, and we’re all blessed. Our Thanksgiving Drive offers different ways to contribute. Some people like to shop for the food on our Thanksgiving Drive list because they feel good to provide the meal. Others don’t have time to shop; so they contribute money, and Philoptochos members shop for the items. Our young adults and teens donate their time out of their busy schedules and organize all the items to be delivered”.
Mrs. Zachariadis has noted an increase in giving, especially and surprisingly during the COVID-19 shutdown.
“We had a steady number of meals of about 150-180 provided for the first, let’s say, 7 years; but last year, we provided over 200 through an on-line sign-up program. This year, through both the on-line sign-up program and in-person donations, we again are contributing over 200 meals.
Needy families are found through outreach to such area organizations as the Deasy Elementary School in Glen Cove, N.Y., the Glen Cove Youth Bureau, the North Shore Soup Kitchen food-delivery program developed early in the COVID-19 pandemic known as NOSH, and New Ground Veterans based in Levittown, N.Y., with families living throughout Long Island
A highlight of the effort is receiving “thank you cards written with such genuine sincerity from children who thank us for giving the meals. It makes you feel so good”.
