Volunteers Team Up to Feed 300 for Thanksgiving

About 60 volunteers teamed up to provide about 300 meals to hungry Peekskill residents on Thanksgiving.

The event, which was sponsored by the Peekskill Area Pastors Association, provided about 150 meals to residents at the United Methodist Church in Peekskill. Another 150 meals were transported to homebound residents in the area.

The Turkeys were prepared at the Vetaran's Administration Hospital in Montrose on Wednesday and brough to the United Methodist Church Thursday morning. The Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES also assisted with the preparation.

Barry Prichep and Roy Volpe helped lead volunteers throughout the process.

The Peekskill Area Pastor's Association hold the dinners every year and relies on donations of food and money to put it on.

Bishop Michael Champion, president of the Peekskill Area Pastors Association, said donation were lower than normal this year due to the storm damages caused by Sandy last month. Mail outs and flyers asking for food donations and contributions to the pastor's association's annual appeal were delayed due to the storm, and officials were late getting the word out.

In addition to the Thanksgiving Dinner, the Peekskill Area Pastors Association works closely to support organizations such as Caring for the Homeless of Peekskill, the Jan Peeks Shelter, Hudson River Health Care, the Sunny Doughnut breakfast program and Fred's Pantry at St. Peter's Church.

Anyone who wants to make a contribution to the Peekskill Area Pastors Association can make checks payable to "PAPA" and send them to P.O. Box 282, Peekskill, NY 10566.