LYNNFIELD– School Street Foods delivered 25,003 meals during the week before Thanksgiving, soundly breaking last year’s record, according to owner, Gina Goodwin.
She said that they delivered 1,900 ingredient kits, each designed to make a Thanksgiving feast for 10 people, and 4,003 single-serving, ready-to-heat meals.
The establishment also gave out approximately 75 free plates of hot food on Thanksgiving Day at their location on School Street, which were not counted in her tally. They served meals to the Firefighters and other first responders, as well as anyone who walked in and wanted one.
Goodwin said that there was “no requirement, people don’t need to prove why they need the meal.”
This was the 15th year they have been distributing Thanksgiving meals. School Street Foods surpassed their previous record of 22,000 meals, which were given out last year.
Thanksgiving Day was “consistent,” she said, exclaiming that they even “had a man drive from the Hershey park area!” The day was as much a success as the “organized chaos” of the deliveries during the week. “We plan to do it every year. My entire team volunteered!”
Volunteers also helped with the preparations and deliveries. Goodwin’s home was the central hub, where she did much of the storage, prep, and distribution of the meals and meal kits. She was helped by many local schools and youth organizations, with “tons and tons of kids doing food drives, baking, and cooking”.
She got help and support from many other community members, organizations, and local businesses as well, including Malden Catholic High School, Lynnfield High School, Middleton’s North Suburban Wings hockey, Treadwells Ice Cream, Peabody Light, Townsend Oil, Danvers Hockey, and Vestmark Financial.
If the cards Goodwin has received since Thanksgiving are any indication of School Street Food’s impact, it’s clear how deeply the community was touched by coming together to cook and share the holiday meal. One card, sent by a grateful family who recently lost their home, read: “My family can’t thank you enough. Since our house burnt to the ground we have been struggling. Thank you for cooking for us.” Another card, addressed to Goodwin and her large team of volunteers, said: “Feeding my family of 11 was so generous of you. Without you, our family could not have such a great meal, especially living in a hotel”.
She loves that she and everyone behind her made an impact. “Those responses are why we do it!” she said, “Its a fulfilling feeling.”
