Giving their all

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As DJ M.C. Doug E.D spun records, people drove up to drop off a cornucopia of items from groceries to cash outside the McDonald’s in Grays Ferry this weekend to help put some cheer on the Thanksgiving tables of those in need.

With the holiday just a few weeks away, people are ready to lend a helping hand in whatever amounts they can this year. Community advocate Paul "Earthquake" Moore, looking to do something more than his annual Turkey Run and to generate side dishes to go with the birds that day nets, partnered with the fast-food eatery’s owners Freddie and Rosa Rosado for a 24-hour canned food-a-thon that started noon Nov. 7. Moore approached the Rosados and they readily offered up their parking lot as a collection site, turning the event into a first for both parties. Moore’s goal was to fill a 35-foot truck to the brim with non-perishables like canned vegetables, dried pasta and bottles of juice for 150 Thanksgiving baskets that will be packaged and given to families Nov. 21 in various police districts throughout Philadelphia and Delaware counties out of New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, 7001 Woodland Ave.

"More people are in need this year with the economy, the budget crunch, the sales tax," Moore said.

The McDonald’s, 2851 Grays Ferry Ave., was not the only place bent on making sure the holidays happen. Philabundance, 3616 S. Galloway St., though a year-round operation, has an increased need this time of year. Saturday, individuals donated turkeys during the five-hour Annual Turkey Round-up, which netted 25 birds and brought the hunger relief organization closer to its goal of 1,000. Though there won’t be another round-up before the holiday, Philabundance will accept turkeys right up until Thanksgiving.

According to Philabundance Communications Manager Marlo DelSordo, collections at food drives, despite the economy, are up and the pounds of meat collected for the organization’s Grocers Against Hunger program hasn’t taken a dip. Chain stores, such as Acme Markets and Giant Food Stores, donate meat at or near expiration dates and, although products are still coming in at the same rate, the overall need in the community is up 30 to 35 percent over years past, forcing the same amount to go even further.

"With the rising unemployment rate and the recession, we are giving people less food and some of our agencies are not able to take more people on," DelSordo said.

With this in mind, Philabundance lowered last year’s goal of 5,000 turkeys to just 1,000 this year. They also decreased the number of donation sites from four retailers to its two warehouse locations, the one on Galloway and at 302 W. Berks St. in North Philadelphia.

"Philabundance generally comes close to our goal, but our goal every year is not the same," DelSordo said. "Philabundance can’t possibly secure enough turkeys for the 65,000 people we feed every week. We just don’t receive enough donations.

"Giant Markets provides Philabundance with coupons that we redeem for turkeys and we’re looking at about 4,300 turkeys — 134 agencies receiving 32 turkeys each. Our goal is to get in as many turkeys as possible — with a minimum of 4,000 or so — and then as many more as we can get our hands on."

Pragati (Indian) Association members, from left, Mita Sen and Keya and Jayanta Das donated more than turkeys to Philabundance’s annual event Saturday morning (Staff Photo by Greg Bezanis).

Though wallets may be thinner for many, people still are willing to dig deep this time of year, whether it’s to give time, food or money.

Moore began planning his campaign a month ago and a full slate of entertainment — including local gospel group United Voices, BET’s Anton Moore, of 20th Street and Snyder Avenue, and sportscaster Bill Vargus — hopped on immediately to help generate enthusiasm and draw attention to the cause. Periodic announcements Saturday and a sign above the entrance, donated by the American Legion Henry Hill Post 385, made passersby acutely aware of what was going on and even lured some in to ask questions and make impromptu contributions, which was convenient, especially with a Pathmark in the next shopping center at 3035 Grays Ferry.

In his ongoing attempt to spread cheer — he also will host the 14th Annual Turkey Run starting on the south side of City Hall on Broad Street 10 a.m. Nov. 21 and ending at the Wachovia Center at Broad and Pattison Avenue; all runners must bring a turkey to participate — he enlisted friends and local companies to facilitate his efforts.

"I’m just trying to bring a little flair to the holidays," he said.

He did just that with more than 30 community members and various companies lending support to make the day-long event possible. Diamond Tools provided spotlights throughout the night, while Paul Moore and friends alternated shifts in a tent propped up in an adjacent lot. JAG Expansion Group in Southwest chipped in a 35-basket donation, whereas District Attorney Lynne Abraham offered a $250 gift card that will purchase food for the baskets through her nonprofit Urban Genesis, which works to prevent crime, promote revitalization projects, enhance educational opportunities and provide scholarships. Representatives from the American Legion Post also volunteered to staff the truck in shifts as it waited for donations. The group Girlfriends Inc., based at Sixth and Reed streets, that aids neighborhoods during community events, not only donated their time, but also brought food and cash for the baskets. Member Annette Kennedy, of Southwest, thinks people have been generous this year, despite all that is going on.

"With the economy the way it is, everybody is stepping up," she said.

Though only half of the truck was filled, enough to assemble 70 baskets instead of 150, the hard work paid off. Word spread like wildfire and people came from as far as Wayne and Phoenixville to minimize the stress of the season for people they may never even meet. State Rep. Babette Joseph’s legislative assistant, Tara Hannah, of 28th and Porter streets, was eager to be involved with such an optimistic neighborhood event.

"This is very good for the community and an excellent thing he is doing," she said of Moore’s efforts.

Only an hour into its start and more than 20 people had dropped off boxes crammed with food or money.

"I think more people that are able are giving because food banks are low on supply," American Legion Commander Bill Denny said.

Stacy Coburn from Wayne agreed. The NovaCare employee dropped off a box stuffed with about 40 non-perishable items she helped collect from co-workers in her Villanova office after receiving an e-mail about the food-a-thon.

"It’s something we try to do especially during the holiday season and in this economy," she said of her workplace.

For more information or to make donations of money or turkeys to Paul "Earthquake" Moore’s Thanksgiving baskets, call 215-385-2696 or e-mail earth_quake1@hotmail.com. Donations also will be accepted at the 14th Annual Celebrity Turkey Run Nov. 21.

Frozen turkeys with a receipt or monetary donations may be dropped off 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays to Philabundance, 3616 S. Galloway St. For more information, contact http://www.philabundance.org/ or 215-339-0900.