Nov 24, 2015 2 min read Central Brooklyn

Hundreds Line Up For Turkeys Outside CAMBA’s Beyond Hunger Food Pantry

Hundreds line up for turkeys and thanksgiving trimmings outside CAMBA's food pantry. (Photo by Shannon Geis/Ditmas Park Corner) — Hundreds line up for turkeys and thanksgiving trimmings outside CAMBA’s food pantry. (Photo by Shannon Geis/Ditmas Park Corner)

Thanksgiving is just two days away and many families in our neighborhood are unable to afford to set the table with a turkey and all of the trimmings. Many turn to CAMBA’s Beyond Hunger Food Pantry for the supplies for their holiday meal.

Hundreds stood outside the pantry Tuesday morning waiting to pick up their thanksgiving meal. The line stretched down the block and several at the front of the line had been waiting since 5:30am.

The crowd of people who stood in line Tuesday to receive their holiday bird as part of Ditmas Park Corner’s “500 Turkeys For 500 Families” drive (you can still contribute here!) and many know CAMBA’s Beyond Hunger food pantry at 2241 Church Avenue well. Each week, many of those in line for the turkeys wait in the same line to get the milk, bread, and vegetables they cannot afford. According to CAMBA, about 4,000 people go to the nonprofit’s food pantry each month.

“We have a lot of great support from the community, not just monetary support, volunteers as well,” said Lucila Santana, program supervisor.

Neila, Janet, Daniel, Lucila, James, and Angel work to distribute turkeys. (Photo by Shannon Geis/Ditmas Park Corner)

One volunteer, Neila, acts as a hostess for those coming in receive their turkeys. She helps direct everyone and tells everyone where to move their carts.

“I’ve been doing this for 11 years,” said Neila. “I love being able to help.”

The organization plans to give out a total of 1,100 turkeys in the neighborhood this season.

Food ready to be handed out. (Photo by Shannon Geis/Ditmas Park Corner)

“We want everyone to be able to experience the holiday; it brings people together,” said Santana. “We appreciate the support we’ve received so far. ”

Volunteers hand out food. (Photo by Shannon Geis/Ditmas Park Corner)

For the third year now, we have been raising money for CAMBA so that more of our neighbors get to enjoy a bit more for the holiday, and we are hoping to raise $10,000 before Thanksgiving. If you could, please remember your neighbors – CAMBA does a great job of helping them out when they’re struggling, but the nonprofit needs funds to do so. And turkeys are typically the most expensive part of a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Please donate to the Thanksgiving drive, and from all of us at Ditmas Park Corner, thank you!