Rotary Provides 300 Families With Thanksgiving Dinner

By Betty Rosenzweig

''Give us 15 bucks and we'll feed a family,'' Alan Rutkin, 39, tells possible sponsors of the Rotary's Thanksgiving Program.

GREAT NECK ROTARY'S ALAN RUTKIN and young Interact members, preparing Thanksgiving baskets for needy families. photo credit Ronald L. Glassman

For the sixth year in a row, the Rotary Club of Great Neck, with the support of the Great Neck Interact Club (the high school Rotary Club), provided Thanksgiving dinners for hundreds of needy families.

Around the beginning of October, Mr. Rutkin, who heads the program for the Rotary and is a past president of the organization, sent out a mailing to raise the funds and within a month they had enough sponsors to feed 300 families.

''It's really a bargain when you think about it,'' he said. ''For $15 you can make a very big impact on a family.''

The dinner actually costs the Rotary about $20; the difference is made up by the Rotary and other contributions from individuals.

After competitive bids were received, the orders were placed at various wholesalers and local stores.

''Actually it wasn't the big supermarkets that gave us the best price on the vegetables. It was a small store on Great Neck Road,'' Mr. Rutkin said. ''Family Fruit Farms really came through for us.''

On Nov. 23 and 24, the 6000 pounds of fresh food for the 300 Thanksgiving dinners were assembled for distribution at the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point. There were 300 boxes put together-crammed full with turkeys, vegetables, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pies, for distribution by local churches and temples.

Some of the food was delivered to the Academy by the suppliers; a good deal was picked up and delivered by Rotary volunteers, in a truck provided free of charge by Rent-A-Wreck.

''Rent-A-Wreck has been wonderful,'' Mr. Rutkin said. ''They've come through for us in a very big way every year.''

On the 24th, Alan Rutkin, partner in Long Island's largest law firm, Rivkin, Radler & Kremer, drove the Rent-A-Wreck truck to pick up the orders; he was assisted by James Young, branch manager with Marine Midland Bank in Great Neck; and Dr. Mitchell LeFland, cardiologist with Nassau Cardiology in Mineola.

When asked how much time he devotes to this project Mr. Rutkin said: ''It really doesn't take that much time and it's a lot of fun...'' And, he added, ''My secretary, Rose Ann Pappone, is a big help.''

''We like people and we want to help...,'' Ms. Pappone said.

The Rotary Club of Great Neck meets Wednesday mornings at The Inn At Great Neck. The group also sponsors the Gift of Life Program.

For more information please write the Rotary at P.O. Box 1112, Great Neck, NY 11023.