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HERALD Church youth group food drive
Freeport schools learn to give back
Annual Toys for Tots initiative
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VOL. 87 NO. 49
DECEMBER 1 - 7, 2022
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Vets in need ‘Stand Down’ at Armory tor Ralph Esposito and his team. Yet the real thanks for putting it all together, Kennedy said, It’s been said that a soldier belong to Paul Vista, Esposito’s doesn’t fight because he hates deputy at the veterans services what’s in front of him, but agency. instead he fights because he A number of veterans drove loves what he left behind. up to the armory on And when the Nov. 22, forming an battles are finally e f f i c i e n t d r ive over, these veterans through queue return to what they where they would left behind and received goods by loved, but might not category as they proalways have everygressed through the thing they need for line. Volunteers sifttheir own happiness ed through bags and and survival. waited behind tables T hat’s where piled high with “Stand Down” clothes containers RALPH comes in, providing of shirts, pants, winm a n y o f t h o s e ESPOSITO ter jackets, food necessities to hun- Ddirector, boxes, and even dreds of veterans for some Thanksgiving Veterans Affairs the 38th time just pies and turkeys. before Thanksgiving Nassau County “We had a lot of at the Freeport volunteers help us Armory. There they from all the veterans could find food, shoes, clothes, organizations, and those outside and other personal care items, that also helped us out,” Esposito all put together by a team of vet- said. “But the biggest contribueran support groups. tors are the people that put this Freeport village mayor Rob- together and gave us what we ert Kennedy — a Vietnam veter- needed — whether it was the an himself from the U.S. Navy — supply or the food. They’re the joined those volunteers to hand ones that collect the full data, out supplies with by Nassau and they packed over 500 bags of County’s veterans services direcCONTINUED ON PAGE 10
By MOHAMED FARGHALY mfarghaly@liherald.com
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Mohamed Farghaly/Herald
THE RETURN OF Perfecting Faith Church’s Thanksgiving feast tradition was accompanied not only by warm food and fellowship, but also by a market where visitors could pick up household products and apparel. There was even a pop-up barbershop offering haircuts to anyone who needed one.
Perfecting Faith Church offers holiday feast, and other services By MOHAMED FARGHALY mfarghaly@liherald.com
Thanksgiving is an important tradition in many families — a lot of it disrupted in recent years because of the coronavirus pandemic. But families are back together, and so is another tradition — this one at Perfecting Faith Church. The North Main Street church opened its doors to those in need last week, marking the return of its annual Thanksgiving feast. And volunteers went all-out, providing not only a good meal and great company, but also supplies to keep them going after the holidays. And even a fresh haircut.
“Every year, we have a Thanksgiving feast for those who are in shelters, for those that are homeless, for the veterans that don’t have any place to stay or family, and for those that don’t have family here, don’t have any family, or they may live here and have family problems,” said Pastor Donnie McClurkin. “So, we open it up, and we give them an atmosphere that is conducive to what a real Thanksgiving should be.” This year, the church offered a market where visitors could pick up free clothing and toiletries, and get a haircut by volunteers from Trimz Barber Shop on Guy Lombardo Avenue, and Gifted Styles. “This is just something we do for ThanksCONTINUED ON PAGE 4
f you need help, stand down and come to us and ask for help.