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Read the press release here.

Rikers Island Inmates to Cook Thanksgiving Turkeys for the Needy

By DNAinfo Staff on November 21, 2011 6:18pm

Rikers Island inmates delivering Thanksgiving meals last year. The program has been delivering Thanksgiving meals since 2001.
Rikers Island inmates delivering Thanksgiving meals last year. The program has been delivering Thanksgiving meals since 2001.
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Melissa Grigg

By Sarah Tan

Special to DNAinfo

MANHATTAN — This year, Thanksgiving dinner for some Upper East Siders will be prepared at Rikers Island.

As part of the program, run in partnership between the Department of Correction and the nonprofit Osborne Association, ten incarcerated men will prepare 150 turkeys in a Rikers Island kitchen on Tuesday before delivering the food on Wednesday to the Church of Heavenly Rest and the Church of the Holy Trinity. Last year, the program delivered 350 meals to seniors who were unable to leave their homes for the holiday.

The Osborne Association's culinary training program, Fresh Start, was established in 1989 and is one of the longest running programs at Rikers Island. The program has been collaborating with churches for Thanksgiving since 2001 through its culinary arts training and life and parenting skills course for incarcerated men.

Director William Eric Waters said that he felt that the program was important to the inmates, especially during the holidays.

“One of the things we talk about is the importance of giving back that is, participants giving back to their families and the communities they have harmed,” Waters said. “The men want to go through this program because they not only want a fresh start, but they also want to be better men, better fathers.”

Churches have also benefited from the program. Rev. R.C. Laird of the Church of the Holy Trinity said that the culinary program has helped to alleviate some of the workload that the church's pantry experiences during the holidays.

“It’s transformed the way we run this program,” Laird said in a release. “We’re thrilled to be able to work with Fresh Start and what the program stands for.”

Waters agreed that the program has helped all people involved.

“Last year when we went, they made cookies for the guys,” Waters said. “We've had a good response from all parties, the Department of Correction, the churches and from the men participating.”