Project Thanksgiving

Low and behold time marches onward and it’s November.  Let that sink in a moment – NOVEMBER.  Christmas junk has been in the stores now for over a month (all hail the spirit of commercialism!), we’ve just turned the corner on Halloween, NaNoWriMo is underway (all the best to those participating!), Election Day is nigh (yes you should vote in the hopes that something will eventually change somewhere), Veterans Day too, and then Thanksgiving – one of my favorite holidays. 

“Why is that – Thanksgiving being one of your favorite holidays?”

Because it’s still genuine.  It’s untouched by the greed of other holidays.  Thanksgiving hasn’t sold out and, frankly, we need to pause and take account of all the blessings (yeah, that’s the right word) that we have and be thankful.  I don’t say this to make you feel guilty, Gentle Reader.  I say it because it is true.  I live in the South Jersey area and up the road in Atlantic City, five major casinos are closing.  That translates to a LOT of people out of work; a lot of families who are going to be scrambling to make the rent, buy food, or pay bills.  Forget, Black Friday; to paraphrase Billy Joel, surviving will be the noblest fight and, yes, even in surviving we can be thankful – it’s much better than the alternative.

If you would like to help ease the burden for some families in the South Jersey area this year I humbly suggest supporting the Project Thanksgiving Turkey Drive (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Thanksgiving-NJ/302695739793341).  The nuts and bolts are as follows:

On November, 22^nd from 9:00 – 5:00 PM, there will be collection points set up at both Shoprites in Vineland and the Shoprites in Millville and Bridgeton; as well as, the Mullica Hill and Sewell Shoprites and the Venice Italian Eatery in Pitman.  They will be accepting frozen turkeys, store certificates for free turkeys, cash, and checks payable to the Food Bank of South Jersey or the Salvation Army.

So there it is.  If you have a spare turkey consider giving it over to Project Thanksgiving on November 22^nd.   They have a way of uniting turkeys with people who need them.  It’s a win – win; you get extra space in your freezer and the knowledge that your turkey has done some good in the South Jersey area.  It’s a win – win because, even in these incredibly uncertain times, we have much to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

  

Nigel & Alex

 

Project Thanksgiving

I am a blessed man, Gentle Reader.  I’m no Warren Buffet or Donald Trump but in the battle between “wants” and “needs”, the Lord has provided.  I am not rolling in money and I have no gold ingots stashed away yet the lights are still on and my children are fed.  With the molehills in my life that I can turn into mountains I can still recognize – just by keeping my eyes open and looking around me that my “problems”, when seen in comparison to others are not as mountainous as they appear to be.

“May you live in interesting times…” is often quoted as being a curse more often than being a blessing.  It’s a double-edged statement; it cuts both ways.  These are most certainly, “interesting times.”  There is a lot of need out there and Thanksgiving, Christmas and the rest of the Holidays are on deck and waiting to pounce. 

Enter Project Thanksgiving.  This is the brainchild of a friend of mine, Mr. Alex Kaganzev and it is sponsored by the Salvation Army.  Project Thanksgiving is a local turkey drive that provides turkeys to families in the Cumberland County area.  This is a grassroots sort of movement and it is currently for people in the Cumberland County area (Millville, Bridgeton, & Vineland).  Just like an avalanche begins with one too many snowflakes Project Thanksgiving has been gaining momentum and growing too.  As you may have guessed, yes, they could use your help.

“What can I do?”

On Saturday, November 19^th, bring a frozen turkey or a donation to ANY of the four local ShopRite supermarkets in Vineland, Millville, or Bridgeton between 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.  That’s it.  That’s pretty painless and it has the direct effect of helping someone out.  Not too shabby, I’d say. 

But wait – there’s more!  The Cosmopolitan Restaurant in Vineland has thrown their hat into the ring too.  If you bring a turkey or a $20.00 (or greater) donation between November 10^th and the 19^th you will be given a coupon for 15% off of your next meal at the Cosmo; again, not too shabby.

Chances are you’ve earned a frozen bird or two with your ‘super-saver’ card.  If you happen to have a spare turkey, please consider making room in your freezer and donating it to Project Thanksgiving this year.  These are interesting times – perhaps we can help making these times a little less complicated.

Sincerely,

Evil Chicken