Newark's GI Go Fund Helps Feed Hundreds on Thanksgiving

The GI Go Fund, a Newark-based charity, co-sponsored a Thanksgiving Day dinner to hundreds of homeless military veterans as well as active-duty personnel aboard the Battleship New Jersey Thursday.

The fund also supplied care packages to the homeless vets aboard the decommissioned vessel, which is moored in Camden. The GI Go Fund partnered with the Camden County Veterans Affairs Office and the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders.  

“We are so happy and proud to be part of this incredible event,” said GI Go Fund Executive Director Jack Fanous. “Our largest priority, both as an organization and as Americans, is to do everything we can to ensure that our veterans who once fought to defend our streets never live on them.”

The care package materials include articles of clothing once belonging to the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a World War II veteran. The clothing was provided to the organization by Lautenberg’s family for veterans in need. In addition, many of the care packages were assembled with the assistance of New Jersey’s newest senator, Cory A. Booker, who developed them as part of a volunteer effort with dozens of Newark-area school children on the anniversary of Sept. 11, just prior to his departure as mayor of Newark.