Friday, January 17, 2025
Oceanside Community Service continued its decades-long tradition of giving, particularly during the holiday season, delivering food to families in need during the annual Turkey Shoot at Oceanside High School on Nov. 26.
The Turkey Shoot, OCS’s annual effort to collect, assemble and distribute food baskets for families in need, has delivered around 5,500 holiday meals, amounting to more than 100,000 pounds of food, since 1986. Estimates are based on an average of 150 families served per year; the number fluctuates but data has not been stored on exact numbers for each year.
This year, more than 87 local area families received these bountiful baskets, which included turkeys weighing between 15 and 20 pounds, fresh produce, and other Thanksgiving staples. In total, the operation distributed an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 pounds of food. The identities of the families are kept anonymous to preserve their privacy.
The Oceanside High School student government partnered with OCS this year to organize the event, which spanned weeks of preparation, starting after Halloween, with food collection and basket assembly. About 24 student government members assisted in the initiative by packing baskets. The high school’s seniors volunteered to deliver the baskets, alongside staff members, while underclassmen helped load and prepare deliveries.
“This is such a community-wide event that, without the support of the community, this would never happen,” Lisa Comuniello, the high school’s director of student activities, said. “The amount of food is tremendous.”
Volunteers, community members, and even alumni pitched in to make it all come together. Former Oceanside High School students Kiersten Elbaz, who is currently attending Tulane University, and Josie Zaccoli, who is enrolled at the University of Delaware, returned home from college for the holiday weekend and visited the high school early Tuesday morning to help Comuniello, their former teacher, with the Turkey Shoot.
“It’s not just about making the baskets — you get to see the impact on the families,” Elbaz said. “The fact that you get to go on the runs where you get to see the impact that you’re making, that’s why it’s the best thing ever.”
Alumni cherish the event as a unique community experience, with many noting it as a defining memory of their time in Oceanside.
“There’s also a lot of people in our community, you don’t know are struggling, and being able to help those people, whether you know who they are or not, it’s just nice to see,” Zaccoli said.
OCS operates like a well-oiled machine, with volunteers and organizers working year-round to address community needs. Thanksgiving is one of its largest undertakings, made possible by a vast network of contributors. OCS’s programs aim to support families in need while maintaining the families’ dignity, including discreet delivery methods.
“We’re taking care of people that want to be taken care of, and that’s all we can do,” Michael D’Ambrosio, Oceanside school board president, said. “We’re taking care of people that need food, and this is the students doing it. We don’t have professional drivers, and whether you’re in Oceanside or Rockville Centre, they have home-cooked meals. They have family. They sit down for a nice dinner. We have a lot to be thankful for, and I think these kids carry it.”
Sandie Schoell, school board trustee, said, “You’re doing something for someone who doesn’t know who you are, and we don’t know who they are. We don’t know who they are, but we know we’ve helped somebody.”
Also, on Thanksgiving morning, OCS teamed up with local caterers to prepare more than 600 pre-packaged meals, including kosher options. These meals, complete with desserts and other extras, were delivered to families, first responders, and even hospital staff.
“It’s about giving people a holiday they might not otherwise have,” Nancy Baxter, Oceanside Community Service Vice President, said. “We don’t know the families we help, and they don’t know us — but that’s what makes it special. It’s pure generosity.”
The tradition of delivering hot meals began years ago under the leadership of the now-disbanded Interfaith Council. When the council could no longer continue, OCS stepped in to ensure this vital service endured.
OCS’s efforts extend beyond Thanksgiving into the Christmas season. The organization runs a massive toy drive, collecting thousands of toys, gift cards, and food cards for children and teens. Partnering with the Oceanside Federation of Teachers and local schools, OCS members ensure that every child on their list receives four to five gifts, tailored to their age and interests.
The community comes together for a wrapping event at Oceanside School Six, where volunteers fill the cafeteria with laughter, wrapping paper and holiday cheer.
“People call me all the time asking, ‘When’s the toy wrap?’” Baxter said. “It’s something everyone looks forward to — it’s a beautiful sight to see.”
Volunteers distribute the toys, along with food baskets, directly to families just before Christmas.
OCS’s generous contributions could be seen not only during the holidays but also throughout the year, operating a weekly food pantry at School Six, where families in need can pick up boxes of food and frozen meat.
“Helping others isn’t just a seasonal thing — it’s a year-round commitment,” Baxter said. “When you think about the impact we’re making, it’s overwhelming. It feels good knowing we’re making a difference.”
