This is a big week for God's Love We Deliver. The Manhattan charity is preparing meals so thousands of New Yorkers do not go hungry on Christmas. NY1's Roger Clark filed the following report.
It was another busy morning on the loading dock at God's Love We Deliver, where 4,600 holiday meals are on their way to people who otherwise might not have them.
Ashley Parchment drives one of the 20 vans the organization uses to make these special deliveries.
"At the end of the day, our main goal is to make sure the clients get fed," said Ashley Parchment, a delivery driver with God's Love We Deliver.
That has been the goal since the SoHo-based charity began in 1985. It started with one woman delivering a meal to someone suffering from AIDS. Last year, 1-and-a-half-million meals were prepared and brought to New Yorkers with life-altering illnesses.
"All of our meals are tailored by nutritionists for the person who is getting them," said Karen Pearl, president and CEO of God's Love We Deliver.
Including winter feasts for clients, caregivers, children and guests.
Adults and children in the program also receive holiday gifts, like toys and gift cards. And households get an emergency winter meal kit in case bad weather prevents a delivery in the coming months.
"So much of what we are about is helping our clients feel normal at a very tough time in their lives," Pearl said.
With the help of volunteers. Ten thousand of them lend a hand during the year.
"It's extra special to be able to be here and be a part of this family during these times," said volunteer Eric Hastings.
God's Love We Deliver is also getting the word out about all of the work it does with its first cookbook. It features recipes from celebrity chefs, actors and other friends of the organization.
"All of them gave us a story about the power of food in their lives, and then the recipe that goes with it," Pearl said.
To find out more about the cookbook, volunteering or sponsoring a winter feast for someone who really needs it, head to glwd.org.