Bags of Hope: Spreading Thanksgiving Joy at Calvary Church
This weekend marked our second annual Bags of Hope event at Calvary Church in New Jersey, where we came together as a community to prepare, pack, and distribute complete Thanksgiving meals for families in need. It was an incredible effort, uniting volunteers to ensure that hundreds of families could celebrate the holiday with a warm, home-cooked meal.
The bags included everything needed for a Thanksgiving feast: frozen turkeys, stuffing, canned corn, boxed mashed potatoes, real potatoes, onions, and a selection of beautiful baked pies and cakes. Donations continued to pour in throughout the event, including fresh pastries that were delivered straight from local bakeries.
When I arrived at the church, there was already a line of people waiting outside in the chilly, windy weather. Thankfully, the church opened its doors to let families sit inside while they waited. Many attendees were Spanish-speaking, so I got to brush up on my Spanish while distributing pies and bread, wishing everyone a “Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias” (Happy Thanksgiving). The gratitude in their smiles was enough to warm even the coldest day.
A special touch this year was the Gratitude Wall, where attendees could write what they were thankful for on colorful cards designed by the church. These cards, filled with heartfelt messages, were hung on the wall, serving as a reminder to appreciate life’s blessings, no matter how small. Each meal package also included a Thanksgiving card from the church, sharing a message of hope, prayer, and information about the church’s community services.
One of my favorite moments was seeing Sean, my son, get involved. He arrived bright and early at 8:30 AM, ready to work. His job was flattening boxes, and he turned it into a fun challenge, practicing his basketball dunk skills by tossing the flattened boxes into a cart. Later, he helped distribute potatoes alongside my husband. It was wonderful to watch him learn the value of giving back, all while having fun.
Throughout the morning, I shifted between stations, from folding Thanksgiving cards to organizing pies on the distribution table (like a game of Tetris!) and helping ensure the flow of meals to families. It was a busy, rewarding day that lasted over four hours. We were well-fueled with bagels, pastries, and cookies provided for the volunteers, making the experience even more enjoyable.
The Bags of Hope event is a powerful reminder of how community service brings us closer together and shifts our focus to gratitude. It’s easy to take for granted the ability to prepare a holiday meal or sit at a table surrounded by family. For many, this event made that possible for the first time in a long time.
I am so grateful to be part of a community that prioritizes giving back and sharing blessings. Thank you to everyone at Calvary Church who made this event such a success and to all the volunteers who gave their time and energy. Together, we truly made a difference this Thanksgiving season.
