HILLSDALE —Among a season of cheery and vital food drives in the Pascack Valley, the 33rd Annual Helping Hand Turkey Drive, held Saturday, Nov. 22 at Hillsdale United Methodist Church, was a huge success.
Cars were lining up before 10 a.m. outside Hillsdale United Methodist Church, and by noon—as the sun broke from overcast skies and warmed the proceedings—volunteers were moving nonstop. They hauled frozen turkeys onto the lawn, relayed boxes and bags down the basement stairs, and steered donors toward the last bits of available space.
Drive coordinator Mark Loblanco kept the flow steady. “You’re going to want to see downstairs,” he said. “It’s lovely. It’ll blow your mind.”
Indeed, the pantry—recently expanded thanks to additional donated church space—was packed to the gills. Racks held crates of stuffing, canned vegetables, baby supplies, toiletries, cereal, and more pantry staples than volunteers could tally before the next donation arrived. “It’s like a store,” one new volunteer marveled.
Founder Lois Kohan directed helpers alongside pantry coordinator Denise Palotta, who had them moving in practiced choreography. Kohan said this year’s drive came amid heightened anxiety for households relying on SNAP benefits. “We didn’t know what would happen this year, but residents showed up. They really came through,” she said. “If we have more than we need, we share with other pantries. Nothing goes to waste.”
More than 300 turkeys donated; groups across Bergen County benefit
More than 300 turkeys were donated Saturday, including 50 from Inserra Supermarkets. Turkeys were distributed not only to Helping Hand families but to partner organizations including Zion Lutheran Church of Westwood, Westwood Cares, Mount Zion Baptist Church of Westwood, and multiple food pantries across Bergen County.
The outdoor drop-off bin—open 24 hours—was emptied four to six times a day leading up to the event. Three schools held food drives Friday, and families, scout troops, and civic groups kept donations flowing throughout the morning.
Palotta said the pantry now serves close to 400 families a month from across the Pascack Valley, including Emerson, Hillsdale, Montvale, Park Ridge, River Vale, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake, Old Tappan, and Oradell. Saturday’s volume will carry the pantry through the holidays, but spring and summer remain challenging.
“When schools and organizations stop running drives, these tables get empty,” Palotta said. Kohan added the message she hopes readers remember: “Think of us in the summertime.”
Young volunteers step up
Children played a major role Saturday. Elementary-age helpers carried cans across the basement floor; teens sorted turkeys outside like an assembly line. Young Zade and Bode of Woodcliff Lake proudly carried in soup cans with help from their dad, T.J.
“Is that not beautiful?” Palotta said. “It’s kids learning they can help.”
Among student volunteers were members of the Pascack Hills High School Marketing Club, led on advertising and social media by Anya Kerr and Audrey Gray, with volunteers Bailey Ford, Arianna Crabb, and Sophia Kelly. From the Emerson Jr./Sr. High School Key Club, volunteers included Michael Deorio, Danielle Milo, Lindsey Gabriele, Haley Karathomas, Jacob Aying, Owen Blanken, Ryan Neuschwanter, Jackson Facendola, Angel Ponce, Brielle Schumeyer, Jenna Messick, Gavin Vigna, David Kim, Christine Kennedy, and Allie Deorio.
Longtime pantry volunteers Carlos Reyes, Tabitha Ferara, William Ferara, Isabella Reyes, Abbie Tekirian, and Jaden Arregui were also on hand.
Deep roots, lasting gratitude
Founded in 1992 through a Boy Scout’s Eagle project, the pantry became an ecumenical ministry in 1998 under the Hillsdale Clergy Association. Kohan recalled an early year when former Pascack Press editor Julianna Hendricks ran a front-page photo of two empty galvanized collection cans outside the pantry. “The next week, donations poured in,” she said. “That photo saved us.”
A bulletin board downstairs displays thank-you cards, drawings, and notes from families served. One reads simply: Thank you all.
“I’ve been blessed to be a small part of this,” Kohan said. “People in America should not go hungry.”
‘Neighbors helping neighbors’
In a statement, the pantry’s Board of Trustees said it was “truly humbled by the generosity of our community, especially during these past weeks of economic uncertainty. The support has made a meaningful difference, and together we’ve shown that compassion and unity can overcome any challenge. Neighbors helping neighbors.”
How to help
The Helping Hand Food Pantry is open Monday evenings and the first Saturday of each month. Non-perishables may be placed anytime in the covered outdoor bin. Volunteers ages 12 and up are welcome; bilingual volunteers are especially appreciated.
More information: thehelpinghandfoodpantry@gmail.com