By C1 Staff
HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — People lined up outside St. John’s Baptist Church in Jersey City as early as 11:30 am to get a hot meal at PBA Chapter 109’s ‘Feed the Hungry’ event.
CO Lakia Gaillard, the coordinator of the event, said it started with a desire to give back to the community, according to NJ.com.
“There’s a lot of starving people out in the world,” she said. “I thought we’d give [some of them] a hot meal.”
Many of those coming in for the food were former inmates, and Gaillard said events like “Feed the Hungry” helped them feel like part of the community again.
“When people get locked up, they feel like they’re looked down upon,” she said. “BUt we’re not judging them. You can come back and be a productive member of society and enjoy life.”
Funding for the event was raised through donations from HCC officers. This is the first time PBA Chapter 109 has done such an event.