Helping to feed the hungry for the holidays.

0:00 Speaker 1 Well, this is Sunday before Thanksgiving, and all of us believe that nobody in America should be hungry during Thanksgiving, and that’s what America is all about. With us this Sunday morning is Bethfink and she’s a longtime advocate of New Yorkers over fifty and she is the new director of the New York State Office of the AAARP and

0:31 helping feed the hungry doing Thanksgiving and being one of the founders in one of the big contributors. Bethfink tell us about feeding the hungry at Thanksgiving and how do you feel about it?

0:46 Speaker 2 Well, I think it couldn’t be any more important being around a family around holiday and for so many older adults, they are struggling to put food on the table. But at the same time there’s that loneliness factor in holiday time.

1:01 And what could be more basic, as you said, more American than making sure that everyone has a turkey to celebrate Thanksgiving properly.

1:11 Speaker 1 And along you know, WABC and along with AARP, and along with the Police Athletic League and Grossides dou Gistino and all of us that have involved Cardinal Dolan. We left the Oxoch Diocese. We all believe what you believe in.

1:31 And this is America, this is New York. Nobody’s supposed to be hungry in New York, yet they are. So that’s why we’re all working hard to make sure that we do our part. Isn’t that true?

1:45 Speaker 2 Absolutely? Absolutely, we want to make sure that, you know, the people who are older adults are getting the nutrition that they need. You can’t have good help without having good nutrition. And we have to make sure that policymakers here in New York understand the cost of food and make sure that they are providing the right benefits and

2:06 eligibility for food programs for all eligible New Yorkers, so no one has to make a decision between buying food or taking medications.

2:16 Speaker 1 Well, I think that the American people are entitled to have their medications. They’re entitled to not to go home hungry or be hungry. And I mean, we all have to work hard as a team to accomplish that. How do you feel you feel that twenty twenty five is going to be a better year for everybody?

2:40 Speaker 2 I think we all have to be hopeful. I think that’s one of the hallmarks of New Yorkers. I think we are a very hopeful people. So here’s hoping.

2:50 Speaker 1 I agree with you. What else would you like to tell the American people on a Sunday morning.

2:55 Speaker 2 Well, I just I wish everyone have a very happy holiday to embrace their loved ones. If they know older people who are their neighbors, their friends, their relatives, that this time of the year can be very isolating for older people, and so I hope they’ll reach out and invite them to their Thanksgiving daytable, or give them a

3:13 call or stop in for a cup of coffee. Loneliness is a real problem for older adults, and we can all do a little part to help that out.

3:23 Speaker 1 I think we’re going to beat together tomorrow at the press conference, and hopefully we can feed as many as we can tomorrow at our location in New York City. And God bless you, God bless America, and we need God’s help to help everybody.

3:41 Speaker 2 Thank you, sir, have a happy holiday.

3:43 Speaker 1 Thank you, Happy Thanksgiving.