Free Thanksgiving Meals For Those Affected by Sandy

Thanks to the generosity of numerous volunteers, organizations and businesses in the area, there are a lot of places to go for a free, hot meal on Wednesday and Thanksgiving Day.

If you have been negatively impacted by Sandy and could benefit from a free, hot meal, or if you wish to volunteer, here's where to go, starting with an event at the Point Pleasant Elks Lodge #1698, 820 Arnold Ave., at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

The following businesses are donating food for the Wednesday evening dinner:

Martell's; Surf Taco; Hoffman's Ice Cream; Spano's; Longboard Grill; The Spot; Frankie's Bar & Grill; US Subs; Bubbakoo's Burritos; Polka Dot Cupcake Shop
and Joe Leone's. The Beanery is donating coffee. (See attached PDF for more info.)

The following are places serving free, hot meals on Thanksgiving Day:

The Point Pleasant Elks is also hosting its annual "St. Gregory's Thanksgiving Dinner," from noon to 3. Volunteers are needed. Contact Ron Panuska for more information (732) 714-9966.

St. Gregory's Pantry, 804 Bay Ave., Point Beach, needs volunteers anytime from 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday (except on Thanksgiving when they are closed) to help sort food.

Central United Methodist Church's ministry, Matthew's Table, will offer a free Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m at the church, 729 Arnold Ave., Point Beach. If you would like to join them or have lunch delivered, please call (732) 892-3233 and let them know that you will be attending so that they have enough.

The Shore House, Route 88, Point Borough, is serving free dinner from noon to 7 p.m.

Perk's Cafe, 303 Ocean Ave., Point Beach, is serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Contact for seating: Aristotle 732-996-2798 or perkscafe@hotmail.com Sponsored by Jenkinson's and Perk's Cafe.

423 West Lake Ave., Bay Head, will serve brunch from 7 a.m. to noon on Thanksgiving, followed later by dinner at 3 p.m. (Please see attachment for details.)

Church of the Epiphany on Thiele Rd in Brick is serving at 12:30 p.m.

The Brick PAL is serving 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. buffet style.

Ocean County College is serving dinner at 1 p.m. Please see attachment for information about making reservations.

Edgar's Pub, Sea Girt, dinner served at 4:30 pm. Call 732-449-4114 to reserve. The restaurant is hoping to serve out-of-state utility workers and families displaced or otherwise affected by Sandy

Bar Anticipation, Lake Como, is offering a free buffet from 2 to 6 p.m.