ONE Northside Holds Turkey Giveaway for Rogers Park Residents

ONE Northside kicked off the holiday season with a turkey giveaway throughout Rogers Park on Friday, November 17, 2023. The event was part of Light in the Night, a Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) program aimed at reclaiming public spaces.

Dozens of local residents were provided free turkeys for their Thanksgiving dinners as ONE Northside staffers made their way to several locations around the neighborhood. Brandon Turner, a community member, showed up with his son to take home a bird to add to their festive feast.

“We’re going to deep fry it up,” Turner said, when asked about preparation. He went on to praise the work of ONE Northside and its presence within the community.

“I think it’s important because it shows that people do care and they care about people who don’t have much,” Turner said. “If you do have something, you can supplement it with what they’re giving out here. So I think it’s a good thing.”

Ledarrel Goss El, a CP4P Outreach Worker, was one of several helpers who took the lead in serving his community.

“In this particular area in Rogers Park, there are a lot of low-income families that may not be able to afford a Thanksgiving dinner or a hot meal on that day,” said Goss El. “So due to the experience that we have, we just decided to give out turkeys around Thanksgiving.”

Goss El, who’s been working for ONE Northside for three years, detailed several other initiatives the organization is taking up to help support local residents. Programs include financial literacy classes, mentoring at the local high school, community giveaways, and more. The organization is also working with the alderman’s office to create additional programs and resources in the new year.

ONE Northside is one of 13 Chicago organizations representing CP4P, a coalition of non-profit organizations focused on gun violence prevention across 27 Chicago neighborhoods.

To learn more about upcoming Light in the Night events, check the calendar here.