Dear John,

We’ve faced Thanksgiving in dark times before. After Superstorm Sandy in 2012, 500 frail elderly were still our guests in cots on the floor of the Park Slope Armory, and our city was shaken by devastation and vulnerability. In 2016, after the election of Donald Trump, we worried (and with good reason, sadly) for our immigrant neighbors, for women’s rights, for our democracy. But we knew that gratitude, service, and love -- the core values we find in Thanksgiving -- remained urgent and essential.

This year, stripped of the ability to be together with our loved ones, it’s even harder. We’ve already missed so many special moments together. Planning for holidays apart this winter is not where any of us wanted to be this year. It’s not fun to cook a turkey without a crowd. No one will walk inside to remark on the lingering smell of latkes in the kitchen. And it’s too tempting to be home without a crew to help finish off the Thanksgiving pies.

But those core elements of gratitude, service, and love remain urgent and essential. They are carrying us through these dark days.

It is not hard to find things to be grateful for this year -- as so many of you have remarked to me, even when I’ve asked about the challenges and suffering you’re facing. For the essential workers who have cared for us and loved ones, kept our grocery stores stocked, delivered supplies, and taught our children. For the technology that has enabled us to stay in touch even when we are distanced. For the parks and nature around us that have given us space to breathe and reconnect.

We’re putting together some messages of gratitude for Thanksgiving, share with us someone or something you are grateful for this year.

And the forms of service and solidarity we’ve seen in every corner of our city have been extraordinary. This week I attended an amazing zoom peer learning exchange (sponsored by our friends at NOCD-NY) of mutual aid in every borough. I stopped by Masbia, where they’re still supplying food staples to thousands of people every week, but they’ve eliminated long lines with a new reservation system.

Even service is harder when you can’t be together, of course. I know that many of your families have a Thanksgiving tradition of serving food together at big banquets, one more thing we can’t do now. If one of your traditions has been serving food to those who are hungry on Thanksgiving Day, consider volunteering at an emergency food provider or donating this holiday season. Without federal assistance, millions of New Yorkers are sinking deeper into debt, and more than 30% report worrying about not having enough food. Whether you can make a Thanksgiving donation, or sign up for a regular food distribution shift, local providers desperately need the help.

Here are some local suggestions:

Masbia Soup Kitchen needs regular volunteers to help with their food distribution (they are operating nearly 24 hours a day now to package and distribute groceries that people schedule to pick up and don’t need to wait in line). Sign up here.
Brooklyn Relief Kitchen needs donations so they can expand their bulk purchasing. Food donations are welcome at the tent between 10 and 2 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. More details here.

People in Need in Kensington is accepting food donations for Thanksgiving through 11/21, bring canned foods and other non-perishable items to 964 Coney Island Avenue between 2:30 and 4:30. More details here.
CHiPS Soup Kitchen has met their Thanksgiving donation needs, but are raising money for ongoing programs and looking for regular volunteers to cook meals, package food for distribution and staff the reception desk. Learn more here.
Camp Friendship’s community food pantry is in need of donations (esp. pasta, tomato sauce, cereal, beans, canned veggies and fruit, rice, tuna, and granola bars) dropped off Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm, as well as volunteers. Learn more here.

Love, fortunately, shines through even in the darkest times, and even across Zoom. Our new normal of Zoom holidays will not last forever. Vaccine development continues promisingly, and I have confidence our next presidential administration will scale up distribution to make sure everyone gets access. One thing I’ll be thankful for at this year’s small, quieter Thanksgiving table with just the four of us: the joy in imagining next year’s (keinohora) loud, crowded, hug-filled Thanksgiving .

For this year, the sacrifice we make by staying home and apart will save lives, and make it possible to enjoy holidays together in the future. And that is most deeply in the spirit of gratitude, service, and love.

Many of us are missing loved ones this year too, taken too soon by this pandemic. Sending love and strength to your families as you remember them and feel their absence during these holidays.

Please let us know what you’re grateful for.

Brad

Updates and Resources

Latest Virus Data: In NYC, there were 1255 new cases today. We have lost 24,167 people in NYC from the virus, including sadly 18 in the last day, and 293,592 total cases have been identified in the city since the start of the pandemic. The citywide 7-day rolling average of positive test rates is 3.02%, with a daily rate of 2.36% today.
Get A COVID-19 Test: We’ve been hearing about long lines at City MD sites, but lines are shorter at walk-in NYC Health and Hospitals sites and if you can get an appointment online it's really in and out in 15 or 20 minutes (though you might have to check the website frequently to find an available appointment).
Free Thanksgiving Meals: The DOE will be doing a Thanksgiving meal distribution -- a frozen turkey dinner plus the fixings that can be cooked at home. These meals will be distributed during the regular DOE grab and go meal distribution hours on 11/23, 11/24, and 11/25: 9 am-12 pm for students and 3-5 pm for adult community members. Find a distribution site here.
Mental Health Support: The holidays are a hard time for many, and this year will be harder than others. New Yorkers can call the State's mental health hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for free emotional support, consultations & referrals to a provider or visit the Office of Mental Health for resources.
Donate a Coat: New York Cares is conducting their annual coat drive, learn more about how to donate funds or gently used coats here.
Grab-and-Go Meals: All families and students can continue to go to any school building between 9:00 a.m. and noon on weekdays to pick up three free grab-and-go meals. From 3-5 p.m., New Yorkers of all ages can pick up free meals at 260 Community Meals sites across the city. For a list of sites, please visit schools.nyc.gov/freemeals.