STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Volunteers from churches and communities around borough’s extended their hospitality from shore to shore on Thanksgiving. Organizers of the feeding efforts commended staffs and donors who made the holiday feasts possible.
On the line at Blue on Thanksgiving where it was all-hands on deck for staff at the Livingston restaurant. (Courtesy of Project Hospitality)Pamela Silvestri
To express the scale on which the meals helped ease hunger in the borough, the Rev. Terry Troia expressed her gratitude to everyone including Blue restaurant of Livingston.
Roast beef was on the menu at Blue. (Courtesy of Project Hospitality)Pamela Silvestri
Troia reports, “At Blue Restaurant, owner Julian Gaxholli returned to his pre-pandemic tradition of serving hundreds of homeless people a full, four-course dinner with seating that began at 11:30 a.m. and went through 2 p.m.”
She described, “They filled the waterside restaurant’s dining room for a roast beef and turkey gourmet meal with choice of desserts, coffee, soda.”
Blue manager Jeff Caravella and owner Julian Gaxholli (Courtesy of Project Hospitality)Pamela Silvestri
Troia added that scores of homeless men and women came from the ferry terminal, the borough’s parks and abandoned buildings. While awaiting a place at tables, they slept in chairs at the Project Hospitality Drop In Center and at church shelters.
Additionally, Troia said she was floored by a donation by the FDNY. She shared, “The FDNY gave an unprecedented donation of 150 gourmet roasted turkeys. The meals gave Project Hospitality’s homeless and hungry guests a Thanksgiving to remember.”
Prayers were spoken before dinner at Blue on Thanksgiving. (Courtesy of Project Hospitality)Pamela Silvestri
The generosity came as a surprise on Thanksgiving Eve. FDNY Veteran Lynda Thomson presented Troia 150 gourmet roasted turkeys in the Bronx. The meals were trucked back to the borough to distribute at Project Hospitality shelters, residences and…
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