Last week on Thanksgiving, The Greek America Foundation and Marathi Greek Bistro in Tribeca joined forces to prepare and deliver meals for food-vulnerable people in New York City. Thanks to generous donations and the help of several volunteers, they prepared more than $2000 in sponsored meals. The preparation took place in Marathi’s kitchen, and the meals were hand-delivered to The Bowery Mission, a Lower East Side institution that has provided for New Yorkers in need since the 1870s.

Roda Plakogiannis, who brought her two daughters to help, expressed her gratitude to the Greek America Foundation and the Marathi team for instilling in her young girls the “real meaning” of Thanksgiving.

“This is what Thanksgiving is really about,” she said. “And I’m grateful for the opportunity given to Ourania and Evangelia to understand how good it feels to help people in need.”

That day, the volunteers met many beautiful New Yorkers, including new migrants to the United States who are seeking refuge from war and conflict in their countries. Of the experience, the Greek America Foundation says, “It reminded us of our ancestors, not to mention tens of thousands of Greek immigrants who were all supported and served by organizations much like this one.”

It was the perfect way for the volunteers to kick off the holidays with the spirit of “philotimo” and giving back to the community.