Families ‘connect’ for Thanksgiving

More than 150 families in need enjoyed Thanksgiving meals on Thursday, thanks to volunteers from Bellmore community organizations and institutions.

The nondenominational Connect Church in Bellmore sponsored its second annual “Families Feeding Families” campaign. Local grocery stores, Mepham High School students and members of Bellmore volunteer groups pitched in, helping to collect and distribute food to less-fortunate Long Islanders at the church last Sunday.

Participants sponsored families in need by purchasing entire Thanksgiving meals for them. In 2013, about 100 families from across Long Island received Thanksgiving meals collected by Connect Church volunteers. Packages included turkeys, vegetables and pasta, as well as breakfast for the Friday morning after the holiday.

Similar boxes of goods were given out on Nov. 23 at the church, at 2658 Corner Lane in south Bellmore. Stop & Shop, King Kullen and North Shore Farms donated food. And Nancy Moniodes, owner of Nancy the Cupcake Lady on Bedford Avenue, gave boxes of her sweet treats to the cause.

Bellmore Kiwanis and Lions club members purchased, collected and handed out packages at the church. Student volunteers from the Mepham Key and Habitat for Humanity clubs also volunteered their time on Sunday, in addition to gathering goods at a food drive at King Kullen the previous weekend.

Connect Church Pastor John Gravagna offered prayers and encouraging words to the volunteers and families receiving meals. He said he was grateful to all who helped make the holiday outreach program a
success.