Three days ago on Thanksgiving, a very grand turkey dinner was served
to 130 residents of Euclid, more people than ever served in past years.
You should have seen the meal: the staff prepared turkey, gravy, corn
bread, marshmallow sweet potatoes and vegetables; 30+ Rutgers members
and friends provided the stuffing, rolls, pies, cakes, fruit, cheese
and cookies; six Rutgers people helped the Euclid staff and residents
with serving, and another Rutgers person played the piano.
Thanks to you, to all of you! from the many served at Euclid Hall!
This is the 14th year Rutgers has helped out for Thanksgiving at Euclid
Hall. Because full food service has never been the usual fare at
Euclid Hall, this meal has always been a very extraordinary, though by
now, a well-organized and staffed effort. I wish more of you could
have seen the old Euclid Hall where Rutgers helped for its first two
Thanksgiving meals: it was still a dilapidated SRO with a history of
all types of not all legal residents. It was quite different from the
lovely renovated place it is now.
Euclid Hall is a supportive, single-room occupancy, permanent residence
providing affordable living for seniors as well as for individuals
coming out of the New York City shelter system. There are more than 350
residents at Euclid Hall. Maintained under the auspices of the West
Side Federation for Supportive and Senior Housing, Inc (often called
Wish Fish based on its initials), the Euclid Hall staff offers onsite
social services, recreational and interest group activities, and a
community support team for tenants with mental health concerns.
WSSFSH is a 28-year-old community-based organization responding to the
urgent need for low-cost housing, especially for seniors. It has grown
from one to 12 facilities, now housing approximately 1800 people. Its
goal is to provide safe affordable, supportive housing for the frail
elderly, homeless families and single older people, the mentally and
physically challenged, and people with AIDS. WSSFSH purchases, builds,
renovates, and manages housing and develops needed programs. Rutgers
Associate Pastor The Rev. Laura Jervis is the director of WSSFSH and
has had that title since its inception in 1976.
May we close with a very short prayer of thanks?,
Dear Lord thank you for helping us help Euclid Hall and WSFSSH help
others again this Thanksgiving! Amen!