HOWELL — The Howell Policemen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 228 and the Howell Chamber of Commerce, with co-sponsor Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, will hold a Thanksgiving meal drive for local senior citizens.
Residents who wish to participate in the meal drive may contact Anna Ornstein at 732-961-0370 or via email at [email protected] to confirm how many meals they would like to prepare.
Once confirmed, individuals may pick up packaging and containers that have been donated by Applebee’s during business hours at Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, 4645 Route 9, Howell.
Once a Thanksgiving meal has been prepared and packaged, it may be dropped off at the Southard firehouse, 4611 Route 9, between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Nov. 27. The meals will be delivered by Howell police officers in bags that have been decorated by Taunton School pupils, with flowers donated by Kirk Florist of Howell, according to a press release.
“Our union has been delivering meals to seniors since 1997,” said Rob Hill, the vice president of Howell PBA Local 228. “We usually have between 150 and 200 meals donated. … This all started when it was brought to our attention that Meals on Wheels was not delivering on holidays.
“So our union got together with Gene Young [the owner of Mighty Young’s Appliances], Anna and Hal Ornstein [of Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center] and the staff at the Howell senior center. Since then, it has spawned the delivery of thousands of meals to seniors on Thanksgiving, Easter and Passover.”
Hal Ornstein said, “I felt terrible that [senior citizens] were not only alone on holidays, but without a good meal. I knew members of the PBA at the time, and we talked about doing something like this. From there, it just evolved, with people getting their family and friends involved.”
Ornstein said his wife Anna, as well as Gene Young and the members of the Howell PBA, are also responsible for the creation and continuation of the event.
“About 30 police officers bring the meals to the seniors. A lot of the officers stick around and talk to the seniors even after they deliver a meal,” Ornstein said. “It’s a real community thing. I think it teaches the youth [of Howell] about giving, since their parents usually involve them. This is something near and dear to our hearts.”