Sunday, January 19, 2025
Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport celebrated Thanksgiving with its annual Holiday Feast, an event that has been a cornerstone of the church’s outreach for 15 years, on Nov. 28.
This year, the feast, welcomed 300 guests, transforming the church into a hub of warmth, generosity, and gratitude.
"We had 300 guests,” said Gail Gertrude, a member of the church. “Most of them were walk-ins… it was mostly local community, which was fabulous.”
The church’s sanctuary was converted into a formal dining room, offering attendees a fine dining experience with white tablecloths, elegant decorations, and a full Thanksgiving meal complete with all the trimmings and multiple desserts.
Meanwhile, the downstairs space became a “store” where attendees could shop for free, choosing from items like brand-new coats, clothing, shoes, and housewares.
“Everything in the store is free to take,” Gertrude emphasized. “We actually have personal shoppers. They just don’t randomly go in; each gets a personal shopper to help them.”
In addition to the feast and the store, local barbers from Trimz Barbers of Freeport donated their time, offering free haircuts in a designated barber room. This added a unique touch to the event, further enhancing the feeling of care and community.
The event, which ran from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., relied on the efforts of 100 to 125 volunteers from the church. “Everyone is volunteering,” Gertrude said. “Between upstairs, the servers, and downstairs, the store, it takes all of us to do it properly.”
The Thanksgiving tradition at Perfecting Faith Church began with the vision of Senior Pastor Donald McClurkin, who sought to create a meaningful holiday experience for those in need. Initially, the church distributed Thanksgiving baskets.
However, recognizing that many recipients lacked the facilities to prepare meals, the church pivoted to hosting a sit-down feast.
“We make it like a fine dining experience because we recognize that a lot of these peoples have never had a fine dining experience,” Gertrude explained.
Over the years, the feast has evolved to focus more on the local community, a shift attributed to the church’s thriving food pantry. Operated in partnership with Long Island Cares and Island Harvest, the pantry remained open throughout the pandemic, serving as a lifeline for many in the area.
“Our pantry was one of the few pantries that remained open during the pandemic,” Gertrude said. “So many of our sister pantries shut down, and all of the food sources from Island Harvest and Long Island Cares came to us. We served 193,000 tons of food.”
The pantry’s efforts not only met immediate needs but also raised awareness about the church’s services, bringing more local families to the annual Thanksgiving feast.
Guests included homeless individuals, families in need, and seniors who might otherwise spend the holiday alone.
Reflecting on the impact of the event, Gertrude shared a poignant memory: “The reaction of one of the seniors to me one year was, ‘Are all you people always this nice and lovely?’ which broke my heart. It just opened my heart.”
For many, the event offers more than just food and necessities—it provides a sense of community and dignity. Guests are treated like honored attendees, and the care and kindness shown by the volunteers leave a lasting impression.
The church’s commitment to the community extends beyond Thanksgiving. The pantry operates every other Wednesday, and leftover items from the feast’s store are distributed to those in need.
As the holiday season continues, Perfecting Faith Church plans to build on its tradition of service, fostering connections and uplifting the lives of Freeport residents.
