By Nicole Falco
"A lot of people feel bad enough coming down here and getting on line, so why not be a little friendly," said Joe Locoteta after accepting a kiss on the cheek from a female waiting in line.
Many know Locoteta as the president of the Valley Stream Civilian Patrol, but Locoteta is also one of about 40 people who have been devoting their Saturday mornings to the Rosedale, Queens, food pantry.
On a typical Saturday between 9 and 11:30 a.m., the pantry serves as many as 500 residents from the surrounding communities including Rosedale, Laurelton, Springfield Gardens and some families in Elmont and Valley Stream. At 9:30 a.m., two Saturdays before Thanksgiving, the pantry had already given out 150 boxes filled with food.
The pantry normally offers food items including fruit, vegetables, soup, rice and spaghetti. In anticipation of Thanksgiving, the pantry has already given out stuffing and cranberry sauce.
"Little by little they are getting all of the fixings," stated Fred Kress, a Rosedale resident who is also president of Cornucopia. Kress stated that the pantry only provides turkeys to the neediest families.
"We'll take turkey donations. A lot of families will make due without them, but if we had 100 turkeys, they'd go," Kress said.
Locoteta and Kress recalled the story of a Valley Stream woman who was left alone to care for four children. "Her cabinets were bare, her refrigerator was bare...she had nothing, absolutely nothing," Locoteta recalled.
That Thanksgiving, Cornucopia made sure her shelves and refrigerator were filled. Locoteta personally delivered the food to her.
While the pantry is busy during the holidays, Kress is quick to point out that it is just as busy year round.
"This is year round, every week. You can't just stop because there are people who still need [food]," Kress said. "I know almost everyone on this line. I grew up with their kids. It's worth [doing] it for two hours on a Saturday that I'd be in bed anyway."
Many of those on line are elderly and simply need a little something to supplement their own food supply. Using an honor system, those in need can simply walk on line with an ID, collect their box of food with no questions asked.
Most of the food gets donated through food drives at local churches and the rest is provided by the city, state and federal governments. Cornucopia will also hold an occasional fund-raiser by selling shampoos, lotions and soaps. Some of the folks on line may also offer a small donation for their food.
"Some people feel like they want to give something back. It makes them feel better and it helps us buy snacks for them," Kress said.
This Thanksgiving, Kress anticipates that the pantry will be only slightly affected by the fact that so many have already given so much to World Trade Center relief funds.
"We are going to feel it a little bit, but we'll make due. The WTC tragedy should take precedence right now," Kress said.
Anyone in need or who would like to make a donation can call Kress at 718-341-1395. On Nov. 19, 20 and 21, there will be a food drive at the EAB Plaza in Uniondale from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. each day.
If you can't make it there, but would still like to donate food for the holidays, try your local church or synagogue.
Sister Margie Kelly, director of Outreach Services for Holy Name of Mary parish, has been helping the people of Valley Stream for 18 years.
It's not just for members of the parish, it's for all those who live within the parish boundaries, which is about one half of Valley Stream.
"We find out about [those in need] one way or another. We use word of mouth most of the time...sometimes referrals," Sr. Margie said.
This Thanksgiving, the Outreach Program will be providing 80 Thanksgiving baskets to needy Valley Streamers and 25 fully cooked meals, personally delivered by volunteers to those who are homebound or live alone.
Right now "we are wondering what will happen between Thanksgiving and Christmas," Sr. Margie said in light of Sept. 11.
The parish outreach collects most of its food through its ongoing collections at church, government and school surpluses as well as help from the Long Island Cares program.
The parish outreach program is year-round and offers those in need more than just food. The program offers bereavement counseling, mother/child socials, financial assistance, clothing drives and additional human services.
To find out how you can get assistance or to offer donations, call Sr. Margie at 825-0177.
Blessed Sacrament parish offers similar community support. Blessed Sacrament's pantry under the direction of Judy Miccio is currently in the process of making 64 Thanksgiving baskets for the families in its "Holiday Program." Miccio said baskets will include breakfast, lunch and dinner for the day. The food was donated through food drives at the church, school and other programs, as well as by Brownie Troop #2027.
The "Holiday Program" will continue for Christmas, as well. In addition to the food baskets, Blessed Sacrament will provide gifts for each family member in the program. Each year a "Giving Tree" is set up in the church and parishioners take a bell off the tree and purchase the described gift for a person in the program.
Blessed Sacrament's pantry is open year round on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays to service about 18 households a month within the parish.
Miccio said the pantry has not received as many turkeys this year as needed. If you would like to help, Miccio said you can donate the "free turkey coupons" that many grocery stores offer. To donate your coupon, other canned goods or money call Miccio first at 561-8969.
Blessed Sacrament, located at 201 North Central Ave. will host this year's Ecumenical Thanksgiving Prayer Service on Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m.
