Jordan’s Furniture, New Haven YMCA work together to feed families

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — For the first time, New Haven YMCA Youth Center and Jordan’s Furniture joined forces Wednesday to hand out 300 turkeys to local families.

“We give out turkeys to all of our employees every year for their families. Three hundred of our employees chose to donate their turkeys,” said Josh Tatelman, CO-CEO of Jordan’s Furniture.

It’s a tradition those involved are only now starting with the hopes that’ll it’ll continue for years to come. This, as the need grows in the community.

“It feels great. I think just having the support of another big partner in the area to help us kind of reach further and do more in our community, and just kind of meet the need that’s out there,” said Erin Kelly, District Executive Director for Hamden-North Haven YMCA and The New Haven YMCA Youth Center.

Kelly and her team at “The Y” are constantly trying to meet that need, whether it’s through their programming for adults and children, tackling food insecurity, or connecting people to the resources they need.

“All different kinds of things it really just depends on each person who comes through our door, everybody is welcome,” Kelly said,

This event, Kelly said, is a continuation of those efforts.

“Just warms my heart and it’s kind of what our mission is all about,” Kelly said. “Just try to find out what the needs are and how we can best support them, and we really listen first. To kind of see what we can do to just have people be where they want to be and do what they need to do,” Kelly said.

Some families will also get a bag of nonperishable food items donated from the community. The donations are something many families would otherwise go without this Thanksgiving.

“I think it’s about community and togetherness and spending time with family and friends. And just being able to connect and I hope that this is one small part of that day for a lot of people,” Kelly said.

“There isn’t anything more important than that family time. And thanksgiving is really when people try to cherish that time. And if there’s a turkey on the center of that table, and they’re talking and they’re feeling good and feeling full, that fills our heart,” Tatelman said

Even though the giveaway is a limited-time only event, the youth center also has a food pantry, called “Dwight Community Fridge,” which folks can access every day of the week.

The hours for that pantry are as follows: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

Donations can also be made to the pantry from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mon-Fri.

The New Haven YMCA Youth Center can be found at 50 Howe Street.