Brooklyn Community Effort Delivers Free Thanksgiving Meals To Hundreds

BROOKLYN, NY — The season of giving is here, and Brooklynites embraced it at this year’s “Feed the 500,” an annual Thanksgiving giveaway led by the Global Kids Parent Leadership Society.

As in years past, Global Kids teamed up with P.S. 21 Crispus Attucks in Bed-Stuy to serve hundreds of free meals to Brooklyn students, families and community members for its annual “Feed the 500” event.

The initiative not only provides nutritious holiday meals but also creates a warm, welcoming space for the community, officials said.

As food insecurity continues to grow—and with federal food-assistance benefits temporarily halted for two weeks this month—the need for community support has become even more urgent for families struggling to afford a warm meal.

According to officials, about 1.8 million New Yorkers rely on food stamps each week, including roughly 550,000 children and 545,000 seniors.

Community donations and volunteer support made this year's “Feed the 500” possible, officials said.

Contributions from individuals and local organizations highlight Global Kids’ mission of empowering youth and strengthening neighborhood ties, while demonstrating how collective effort can help ensure that everyone enjoys the joy of Thanksgiving.

Elsewhere in Brooklyn, communities were coming together to help families in need.

In Community Board 14, the Council of People’s Organization (COPO) distributed 4,000 turkeys and chickens—including Halal options—to families who might otherwise be unable to afford or access them. The initiative is part of COPO’s ongoing efforts to combat food insecurity among low-income residents in the Midwood–Flatbush area, particularly during the holidays.

“Give thanks, not hate,” the COPO said.