Perth Amboy: ‘City Of Giving’

(Reprinted from Amboy Beacon, Dec. 1, 2010)

PERTH AMBOY — For Thanksgiving 2010, the City of Perth Amboy

transformed-into the “City of Giving,” as some 2,000 traditional Thanksgiving turkey

dinners were served to those less-fortunate.

The Trujillo family and friends, Supremo Food Market, White Rose Foods and

St. Vincent dePaul Food Pantry sponsored the largest mass-feeding of the

season, the 2010 Thanksgiving Friendship Feast honoring the memory of Andrea

Trujillo, at St. Demetrios’ Greek Orthodox Church Hall, Wisteria Street.

Andrea Trujillo, who lived in Perth Amboy for almost 40 years, came from

very-humble beginnings but always gave to those less-fortunate than her.

Andrea Trujillo’s favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, so in her memory, dozens of

volunteers joined together to share this Thanksgiving meal and the gift of

giving that she so-enjoyed with a crowd of almost 600, accommodated with two

seatings.

The Thanksgiving Friendship Feast featured roast turkey, stuffing, mashed

potatoes and gravy, and a wide array of salads and cooked vegetables, plus

such Hispanic favorites as arroz con gandules, yucca and pernil, and an

assortment of desserts. Also, over 100 prizes were given-out to those

in-attendance, including major appliances and electronics, in an outpouring of

charitable giving.

The outpouring of giving actually got-started on Friday, Nov. 19, when the

Perth Amboy Merchants Association (PAMA) held a community outreach program

providing FREE turkey dinners for senior citizens at the Hanson Apartments,

Fayette Street, open to residents of the Hanson and Stack Apartments.

That same day, the Salvation Army Perth Amboy Corps, State Street,

distributed 100 turkeys to needy families.

At the Perth Amboy Knights of Columbus Council 299 “Feed the Needy”

Thanksgiving Dinner on Sunday, Nov. 21, over 300 people from the local community

were served a free meal.

The city’s Office on Aging invited Perth Amboy senior citizens to a

complimentary Thanksgiving Eve Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 24, at the Jankowski

Community Center, Olive Street.

Faith Community Worship Center, Renovation House and Abundant Life Worship

Center teamed-up the next day — Thanksgiving Day — to serve meals at the

Jankowski Community Center, Olive Street, to over 200 families, including the

hard-core homeless. The menu included turkey, corn, peas, beans,

stringbeans, macaroni & cheese, apple and sweet potato pies, juices and sodas.

Vida Church, formerly Mount St. Carmel, at Maple and Fayette Streets,

served 400 turkey dinners to visitors to the Church Hall.

After the holiday, Copa de Oro Tavern, Smith Street, offered FREE turkey

dinners “for those with no place to go” on Saturday, Nov. 27.