Peace Starts With Me Volunteers Support 8,000 Turkey Giveaway In Newark

As Thanksgiving approached in 2019, Newark, New Jersey, embraced the season of giving with Mayor Ras J. Baraka and the Believe in Newark Foundation leading their annual turkey giveaway on Monday, November 25. The event drew hundreds of volunteers, including a team of 60 from the Peace Starts With Me movement, coordinated by Youth and Students for Peace (YSP) administrator Naria Gaarder. The volunteers helped distribute over 8,000 turkeys and side dishes to families in need, ensuring they could enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.

The operation, which began at 3:00 a.m. and continued until the evening, took place at the John F. Kennedy Recreation Center. Volunteers worked in shifts, unloading large crates of turkeys and other food items generously donated by various sponsors. Initially expected to distribute 6,000 turkeys, the increase in donations required the support of an unprecedented number of volunteers. "Turkeys are heavy," Gaarder remarked, as the volunteers lifted 14-pound birds for families.

The event was a celebration of community spirit and giving. Nineteen-year-old Peace Starts With Me volunteer Daniel Kurtowski expressed his joy at being involved, saying, "Our community is really an extended family... it’s great to give back to people in need." Another volunteer, Jean Villar, highlighted the joy of serving others and promoting peace through action.

As the day progressed, Mayor Baraka greeted residents and emphasized the importance of continuing the spirit of giving beyond the holiday season. "As you’re getting a blessing today, be a blessing to somebody else," he urged the community.

The event, which continued the next day to distribute any remaining food, brought warmth and joy to the Newark community, reinforcing the bonds of togetherness and gratitude during the holiday season.