At Epiphany Parish, a community of support on Thanksgiving
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
On Thanksgiving morning, Epiphany Parish, Brick, was jam packed with hundreds of turkeys, roomfuls of food and scores of volunteers ready to share the holiday, and a home-cooked meal, with others.
And in the wake of the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, some felt that the annual dinner was needed this year more than ever.
“The need is great this year because of Hurricane Sandy,” said Sue Hermida, who has been at the helm of the annual project for more than 15 years. She said that, while there were many familiar names and faces among this year’s beneficiaries, some displaced by the storm also came to share the solace and fellowship.
Click HERE to view Epiphany Parish dinner photos
“I think we have a different group of people this year,” she noted.
This year’s feast included more than 800 meals delivered to seniors and the less fortunate by volunteers throughout the area, as well as more than 200 meals enjoyed by guests in the church hall in the afternoon.
Dean Christodoulou has been helping out with the operation since the beginning, this year helping to create routes and provide maps to volunteers who were dedicating part of their holiday to delivering meals to others and sharing some time with them for Thanksgiving.
“It is just to help the community,” he said. “It is just to be part of it.”
Roughly 400 meals went to individual homes, with the rest going to retirement and other communities around the area, he said.
While preparations for the dinner began months in advance, Hermida said volunteers began to prepare food and the dining room into the late evening hours Wednesday.
Teams of volunteers returned early Thursday to begin cooking and assembling meal bags, using both the church hall kitchen and a makeshift culinary station on the back patio of the church.
As guests for the parish dinner arrived, volunteers formed long assembly lines to help load cars, ready to bring the hot meals to individuals and families throughout the area.
The dinner, Hermida says, is an opportunity for fellowship. Whether homebound, homeless or simply down on their luck, the men, women and children who received meals were able to celebrate a holiday that many have take for granted.
“A lot of the seniors say that this is the only person they will see this year, or today,” said Hermida.
The annual event also attracts the support of many local organizations and companies, including local funeral homes that provide limousine rides to homebound seniors to join others for the parish dinner.
This year’s dinner also drew the support of students, parents and faculty in Holy Family School, Lakewood, who mobilized their school community to help in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
“We have united with them for this feast,” said principal Linda Pesce.
In all, the school community contributed 30 cooked turkeys, 15 hams, three cases of yams and scores of stuffing and mashed potatoes.
“Right now, more than ever, we need to just follow our hearts and follow what the Lord would want us to do, and to reach out to others,” she said. Students and PTA members recently helped to stuff a school bus full of donations for local shore communities impacted.
“I think that, right here, we have seven or eight families who have been affected (by Hurricane Sandy),” she said. “We are reaching out to see what we can do.”
She said that the students have risen to the occasion to help those in need this holiday season.
“We are all even more aware of the blessings we have every day,” Pesce said. “We need to reach out and help other people.”
Marion Hughes and her daughter, Nicolle, both of Manahawkin, were volunteering at Epiphany for the first time. They were happy to share the volunteering experience as a family.
“It’s a great experience,” Nicolle said.
For Stacy O’Hare, spending Thanksgiving serving at the parish has become a holiday staple.
“It is just so rewarding,” she said. “You meet the nicest people.”
She said that such an experience helps one to remember the blessings they have, especially in the aftermath of such a devastating natural disaster.
“I think it brings all of the people together,” she said.
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On Thanksgiving morning, Epiphany Parish, Brick, was jam packed with hundreds of turkeys, roomfuls of food and scores of volunteers ready to share the holiday, and a home-cooked meal, with others.
And in the wake of the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, some felt that the annual dinner was needed this year more than ever.
“The need is great this year because of Hurricane Sandy,” said Sue Hermida, who has been at the helm of the annual project for more than 15 years. She said that, while there were many familiar names and faces among this year’s beneficiaries, some displaced by the storm also came to share the solace and fellowship.
Click HERE to view Epiphany Parish dinner photos
“I think we have a different group of people this year,” she noted.
This year’s feast included more than 800 meals delivered to seniors and the less fortunate by volunteers throughout the area, as well as more than 200 meals enjoyed by guests in the church hall in the afternoon.
Dean Christodoulou has been helping out with the operation since the beginning, this year helping to create routes and provide maps to volunteers who were dedicating part of their holiday to delivering meals to others and sharing some time with them for Thanksgiving.
“It is just to help the community,” he said. “It is just to be part of it.”
Roughly 400 meals went to individual homes, with the rest going to retirement and other communities around the area, he said.
While preparations for the dinner began months in advance, Hermida said volunteers began to prepare food and the dining room into the late evening hours Wednesday.
Teams of volunteers returned early Thursday to begin cooking and assembling meal bags, using both the church hall kitchen and a makeshift culinary station on the back patio of the church.
As guests for the parish dinner arrived, volunteers formed long assembly lines to help load cars, ready to bring the hot meals to individuals and families throughout the area.
The dinner, Hermida says, is an opportunity for fellowship. Whether homebound, homeless or simply down on their luck, the men, women and children who received meals were able to celebrate a holiday that many have take for granted.
“A lot of the seniors say that this is the only person they will see this year, or today,” said Hermida.
The annual event also attracts the support of many local organizations and companies, including local funeral homes that provide limousine rides to homebound seniors to join others for the parish dinner.
This year’s dinner also drew the support of students, parents and faculty in Holy Family School, Lakewood, who mobilized their school community to help in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
“We have united with them for this feast,” said principal Linda Pesce.
In all, the school community contributed 30 cooked turkeys, 15 hams, three cases of yams and scores of stuffing and mashed potatoes.
“Right now, more than ever, we need to just follow our hearts and follow what the Lord would want us to do, and to reach out to others,” she said. Students and PTA members recently helped to stuff a school bus full of donations for local shore communities impacted.
“I think that, right here, we have seven or eight families who have been affected (by Hurricane Sandy),” she said. “We are reaching out to see what we can do.”
She said that the students have risen to the occasion to help those in need this holiday season.
“We are all even more aware of the blessings we have every day,” Pesce said. “We need to reach out and help other people.”
Marion Hughes and her daughter, Nicolle, both of Manahawkin, were volunteering at Epiphany for the first time. They were happy to share the volunteering experience as a family.
“It’s a great experience,” Nicolle said.
For Stacy O’Hare, spending Thanksgiving serving at the parish has become a holiday staple.
“It is just so rewarding,” she said. “You meet the nicest people.”
She said that such an experience helps one to remember the blessings they have, especially in the aftermath of such a devastating natural disaster.
“I think it brings all of the people together,” she said.
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