Omega Psi Phi fraternity to distribute free turkey dinners
A historically black fraternal organization plans to give Thanksgiving dinner to more than 400 Pittsburgh area families on Saturday, Nov. 23 by distributing free turkey dinner baskets to the needy.
The Iota Phi (Pittsburgh Graduate) Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. is distributing the turkeys in its 26th annual Turkey Basket Giveaway. The turkey basket giveaway has provided an “essential uplift” to people in need in the Pittsburgh area, said Darian Grant, chapter president.
The fraternity coordinates with local churches, community centers and other social outreach services to identify about 300 families in need. They serve residents of the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of East Liberty, Garfield, Hazelwood, the Hill District, Homewood, Lawrenceville, and the North Side, and neighboring communities of Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale, Wilkinsburg and Wilmerding.
More than 100 baskets will be available to the public on the first-come, first-serve basis at the Fraternity Center on Meadow Street in Larimer.
The baskets include frozen turkeys along with side dishes in a combination of: stuffing mix, canned vegetables, yams, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese mix, cranberry sauce and cake mix.
The local chapter last year gave away 500 turkey dinner baskets.
The Iota Phi chapter of Omega Psi Phi, an international historically black fraternity, consists any brother of the organization who has graduated from college and now lives in PIttsburgh.
“It is our intent as college-educated, professional black men to provide service to our community and lead from the front,” Grant said.
The Turkey Basket Giveaway is one of many ways the organization shows its commitment to Pittsburgh area neighborhoods.
“We understand there are families working hard to make ends meet and sometimes they may fall a little short,” Grant said. “We humbly and enthusiastically accept the role of bridging that gap.”
A variety of businesses and a local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. assisted with sponsoring the assistance to needy families.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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