2023 Holiday Issue

Hopatcong to Offer Traditional
Holiday Meals to Those in Need
Story by MELISSA SUMMERS
Families and individuals struggling to make
ends meet in Hopatcong and several
surrounding towns will have a free warm
meal to look forward to this Thanksgiving
and Christmas, thanks to the generosity and
dedication of the borough’s police department
with help from fire and EMS members.
For the third consecutive year, the
Hopatcong Police Department, in partnership
with the Kiwanis Club of Greater Roxbury, will
offer free holiday meals, according to borough
police officer Taylor Gentner.
Last year, the Kiwanis Club bought and
donated all the food—about 300 pounds—
including eight turkeys for Thanksgiving and
eight hams for Christmas, said Cain Pope, club
president.
“We also provided desserts,” he added.
The club will supply about the same amount
of food for this year’s meals, he said.
The meals for Thanksgiving and Christmas
will be served in person or offered for takeout
at Defiance Company No. 3 Firehouse on
Hopatchung Road.
“We have a tray line, so if people want to
come, they can,” said Gentner, “or they can
contact us, and we’ll put them on a list, and
we’ll deliver to their house.”
Genter said most residents opt for
delivery. Last year, more than 100 households
throughout the borough had meals delivered,
she said.
Residents of Hopatcong, Netcong, Stanhope
and Byram are invited to stop by if they find
themselves in need of a meal, for some holiday
cheer or simply some great company.
Residents can register for the Thanksgiving
and December meals through the police
department but doing so is not required.
“Anyone who shows up is always welcome,”
said Gentner. “We wouldn’t turn them away.”
Past recipients are invited to
email or call the police department,
but Gentner doesn’t want anyone
to be left out. “We keep a running
list of people who have contacted
us in the past. Usually, we’ll contact
them and ask if they would like to
participate again.”
Officers in Netcong, Stanhope
and Byram have offered to fulfill
the needs and requests of anyone
who reaches out from those
areas for meal deliveries. While the free meal
offering is currently open to these residents as
well as those from Hopatcong, Gentner said
they will coordinate with other jurisdictions if
the need arises.
Hopatcong officers and members of the
fire department work together, cooking,
assembling and packaging each component
of the meal. Kiwanis volunteers help man the
kitchen when the first responders are out
making deliveries, said Pope.
A lot of people who participate in the
Thanksgiving meal also participate at Christmas,
according to Gentner.
The weather can be a factor. “Last [Christmas]
Volunteer Lisa Konefal and Kiwanis Club of Greater
Roxbury Secretary Allyson Adams box salads at last year’s
Thanksgiving Day meal.
(Photo courtesy of Cain Pope, Kiwanis club president.)
B"H
there were even more deliveries because it was
during that super cold windstorm.”
In Hopatcong, it’s all about serving the
community and making sure everyone feels
included. “I’m glad that people who need it
get a nice hot dinner around the holidays,”
Gentner added.
This year, the Thanksgiving meal will be
held on Thanksgiving Day from 10 a.m. until 1
p.m. The holiday meal will be held Saturday,
December 23 from 5-8 p.m.
For more information, to donate or to
sign up for delivery, contact Taylor Gentner
at 973-398-5000 or email tgentner@
hopatcongpolice.org.
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