Somerset County Volunteers Will Cook and Serve Thanksgiving Meal to Those in Need

BRIDGEWATER, NJ, November 15, 2011

For the eleventh year, local volunteers, including former members and supporters of the Somerset County Association of Young Professionals (SCAYP), cook and serve a festive Thanksgiving meal for local families and individuals in need.

On Saturday, November 19, the group will meet at the Somerset County Vocational-Technical School in Bridgewater to cook approximately 15 turkeys and prepare a variety of mouth-watering desserts.

The next day, the group will be joined by volunteers from the Somerset County Food Bank to decorate the PeopleCare Center in Bridgewater and prepare place settings for an anticipated crowd of 200 or more. They will then serve a hearty holiday dinner complete with stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy and cranberry sauce. Guests from the community are invited to enjoy the free meal from 1 to 3:30 p.m.

"The Thanksgiving Cook & Serve has become a respected tradition in Somerset County that brings people together to celebrate the holiday and serve the community," said Betty Krupka, former SCAYP volunteer chairperson. "We once again welcome anyone who would like to volunteer their time to help those in need."

Volunteers are needed on both days. Work will be divided into two shifts on Saturday, Nov. 19: 8 a.m. to noon and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., both at the Vocational-Technical School. On Sunday, Nov. 20, two shifts of volunteers also are needed at the PeopleCare Center: from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 12:30 to 4 p.m.

To register as a volunteer or for more information, contact Betty Krupka at bettykrupka@gmail.com.

About The Somerset County Association of Young Professionals (SCAYP)

SCAYP was a nonprofit organization combining professional and philanthropic values to unite young professionals. Though formally dissolved in December 2007 due to financial and other factors, former members and supporters continue to give back to the community in a variety of ways, including cooking and serving meals to the area's less fortunate, building homes through Habitat for Humanity, and working with local agencies on community efforts that benefit seniors, children, the handicapped and other underserved populations. Volunteers from SCAYP have been involved with the Thanksgiving Cook & Serve program since 2000.