by David McCoy

A van from a member of the Food Bank’s food assistance network packed to the brim with poultry and fresh produce for Thanksgiving

Members of the Food Bank’s food assistance network

View more photos of the Food Bank’s Thanksgiving distribution

First of all, I want to say happy Thanksgiving to all of our supporters — thank you for helping us bring holiday meals to New Yorkers in need! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year. And if I had to pick the best day of the year at the Food Bank, it would be the day that I go to our Bronx warehouse to help with the annual Thanksgiving distribution.

On that day I see all the work that the Food Bank does come to fruition right before my eyes. Standing on the docks on a chilly Tuesday morning surrounded by Food Bank staff and volunteers, we wait for agencies to come and receive their free Thanksgiving turkeys, chicken roasters and produce.

As the warehouse buzzes with activity, the calm of the morning lends itself to a rush of activity almost instantly. As cars, trucks and vans from all over the city begin to arrive, the day can begin. Each program backs in to our loading docks and we get to work filling their vehicle with the birds they ordered as well as all the fresh produce the program would like. We push, we shove, we lift, we arrange, we rearrange to ensure that each program that comes to us can get as much as possible for their community.

Hunched over, stacking birds, onions, potatoes, bananas and more into a van, I see how important the work the Food Bank does is. This work is hard and often unrewarded, but as I crawl out of the van, which is now loaded to the brim, I see that the rewards of feeding the hungry are endless. It is the handshake, the smile and the “Happy Thanksgiving” that follows, as well as the knowledge that the food we just packed into that van will end up on the tables of hungry New Yorkers this Thanksgiving. As that van pulls out of the dock, another backs in and I know that Thanksgiving will indeed be happier for New Yorkers in need.

Thank you for making this work possible! With FedEx matching donations, up to a total of $20,000, please consider making a gift today to support the Food Bank’s efforts throughout the rest of the holiday season.