Trenton soup kitchen provides less fortunate with Thanksgiving meal

TRENTON, N.J. (WPVI) -- Hundreds of people packed into the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen on Thanksgiving, digging into a hot and delicious turkey dinner.

"The food is real good. It's very good," said David Snow of Trenton, adding the dressing and the turkey were his favorites.

"It means the world to me cause it's helping us out. I love coming here with my husband," said Beth Ann Vasquez of Trenton.

The soup kitchen served almost 300,000 meals last year through it's Escher Street headquarters and 13 satellite locations. On Thanksgiving, volunteers serve up a full meal and wait on the clients. Each meal is delivered to the table.

"Some people don't got families you know like mine, so it's just like family coming home here," said Timothy O'Neill of Trenton.

"I'm bringing my kids out, we can enjoy with other people and stuff. Me and my kids we're having a ball," said Mary Ann Bravo of Trenton.

"I like the turkey, I like the corn and I like the sweet potatoes," said Kyle Bravo of Trenton.

"The population we serve here are what we call now the working poor. Most of them, about 25 percent is homeless," said Melisa Rivera, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.

The soup kitchen offers more than meals. They also have an adult education program that lets clients earn their high-school-equivalency degree.

Antoine Dennis got his, and now works at the soup kitchen.

"Did what I had to do, got the support from the people here," said Antoine Dennis of Trenton.

"I am volunteering today because I really feel I've been blessed over the years. Don't have a lot, but blessed," said Linda Hart, volunteer.

No part of the feast is wasted. Everyone who eats at the soup kitchen on Thanksgiving goes away with a bag containing another meal.