Compassionate New Yorkers Feed the Hungry on ‘Orange Friday’

NEW YORK—Black Friday is usually known for discount shopping, but some members of the community in Manhattan took part in “Orange Friday” on Nov. 23, to serve hot meals for those in need and raise awareness for hunger.

The Food Bank calls the day after Thanksgiving “Orange Friday.” Camesha Grant, vice president of Food Bank For New York City, said it is the hardest day for those in need to get food, because most soup kitchens and pantries are closed.

“We have about 50 volunteers today who are serving, to meet the need for New Yorkers who are hungry,” Grant said.

On the menu was turkey pot pie and buttermilk biscuits. A stream of people poured in when they opened the doors on West 116^th Street in Harlem at about 12:30 p.m. Some were homeless, some were senior citizens, and some were just plain hungry.

“We expect to see a couple of hundred New Yorkers today, who will come in and have a meal with us, and we’re really excited to be able to have the opportunity to serve them,” Grant said.

Volunteers like Tom Goldstone with his wife and two sons, value helping others who are experiencing hard times.

“Yesterday was Thanksgiving; we declared we were grateful for all the things we are grateful for,” Goldstone said.

“We have many blessing in our family, and we’d like to help those who maybe right now have fewer blessings.”

Tom’s son, Charlie, was enthusiastically laying out a variety of free provisions on the donation tables, personal hygiene items such as polysporin, toothpaste, and shampoo, as well as household cleaning supplies, and non perishable food goods for the pantry.

The dining tables, set in a row, were decorated with helium balloons.

Volunteers served food to people, who sat together like a big family.

George Garfunkel celebrated his 80th birthday by volunteering with his friends at the Food Bank for New York City, on Nov. 23, 2018. Screenshot/NTD

George Garfunkel, decided to celebrate his 80th birthday with friends and family who were all volunteering at the Food Bank.

“I’ve always been concerned about the wellness of others, food poverty is a very powerful thing to understand,” Garfunkel said.

“We have been to this facility to celebrate my 80th birthday, I figured out ... this is the way to celebrate it. Rather than some crazy, expensive gathering, let’s show everybody what life is really all about,” he said.

James Harris, a senior citizen who was enjoying a meal with a friend, was grateful for the generosity of the community kitchen.

“I feel real good, I feel humbled, and I feel very… I appreciate it,” he said.