Food for Needy Scarce this Holiday Season

Community Group has Less Food to Hand Out to those in Need

A Thanksgiving meal giveaway attracted 300 residents to the Albanian American Open Hand Association at 821 Lydig Avenue. -Photo by David Greene

‘Open Hand’ distributes 300 turkey dinners to residents

By David Greene 

Bronx Voice 

December 3, 2024 

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BRONX - Volunteers were busy distributing 300 Turkey meals to residents of the Morris Park / Pelham Parkway community as members of the Albanian American Open Hand Association (AAOHA) held their annual turkey dinner giveaway at their new headquarters on Lydig Avenue.

A crowd of 300 line Matthews Avenue waiting for a free Thanksgiving meal distributed by the Albanian American Open Hand Association (AAOHA). -Photo by David Greene

AAOHA founder Aleksander Nilaj explained as he oversaw the operation, “Today we only have 300 turkeys, which is sad because every year we do over 1,000 turkeys, but this year (donations) we’re short everywhere and I wasn’t able to collect more. But 300 is better than nothing, right?”

According to Nilaj, this year donations for the turkeys came from local elected officials Gustavo Rivera (D, WF-33), Council member Amanda Farias (D-18), Council member Kristy Marmorato (D-13), Assemblyman John Zaccaro, Jr., (D-80) and Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) as well as an unnamed church.

The stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes and vegetables were donated by ‘Sharing Excess’ of Hunts Point, Nilaj calls, “An amazing organization.”

Asked about the annual appearance by Santa Claus, Nilaj explains, “No, I didn’t have anybody. Some people asked, ‘how much do you pay,’ and I said I cannot pay. I know I will try and get a Santa Claus for Christmas because we’re doing a Christmas food giveaway.”

AAOHA was expected to hold a winter coat giveaway the following day and the Christmas meal giveaway was tentatively scheduled from December 21. AAOHA hosts a weekly food giveaway of fresh fruits and vegetables and serves between 600 – 800 people every Thursday at 11 a.m.

Last year AAOHA moved from their former space at the corner of Lydig Avenue and Barnes Avenue, a block over to Matthews Avenue where they now have a 5,000-square foot space.

Nilaj says proudly, “It’s good for volunteers and for the people. The people can come inside and select what kind of food they want, and we have a big storage space.” AAOHA is currently waiting on an $80,000 walk-in freezer and Air conditioning system being donated by Senator Nathalia Fernandez (D-34) Nilaj says, “It will be amazing.”

AOHA is located at 821 Lydig Avenue at the corner of Matthews Avenue. For more information visit their website at: www.aaopenhand.org or call them at (347) 658-8000. For more information on Sharing Excess, visit their website at: www.sharingexcess.com.