Your privacy is our policy. See our new Privacy Policy.


NY Mets serve up lunch at United Methodist mission

Mets pitcher Matt Harvey donned a pair of blue latex gloves for a workout yesterday – serving up Thanksgiving side dishes instead of 92 mile-per-hour fastballs at the United Methodist Center in Far Rockaway, N.Y. About 20 other members of the team’s organization, including owner Jeff Wilpon, Jay Horwitz and Dave Howard, joined the right-hander to serve nearly 300 meals.

Far Rockaway is an underserved area of Queens that was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy; the UM mission has been serving meals and offering worship in that community for more than 20 years. Tons of clothing was also distributed as well as blankets and household items donated by the Park Slope UMC in Brooklyn. An anonymous donor also brought 20 pumpkin pies.

The feast was organized by Syd Mandelbaum of “Rock and Wrap It Up,” a program that boxes up prepared but untouched meals following rock concerts, sporting events and schools before delivering them to local food banks and charitable agencies. The Far Rockaway mission receives unsold food after events at the Mets’ Citi Field.

Another group is providing a turkey feast today; a worship service and meal will also be offered on Thanksgiving Day. The center has asked that clothing donations be limited to coats, gloves and hats.

For link to photo, go to:

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/58889/view-from-far-rockaway-harvey-serves-meals


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Disaster Relief
Photo courtesy of the Louisiana Conference.

Louisiana Conference: Hope Beyond the Storm podcast series

A special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices and pastoring from church leaders, volunteers and neighbors who rebuilt together twenty years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Disaster Relief
Dr. Sue Berry recalls her service directing a special-needs shelter in Lake Charles, La., in the days following Hurricane Katrina. Berry is a member of Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church in New Orleans. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

New Orleans doctor answers call to serve after hurricane

Dr. Susan Berry was leaving New Orleans with her family to escape Hurricane Katrina, but she felt called to stay and help during the public health crisis that followed.
Global Health
Medical students work in the lab at Luke’s House, a free health clinic in New Orleans. From left, with faces visible, are Ryan Barry, Zahra Naeini, Karla Gallegos Díaz and Amelie Jacobs. A United Methodist pastor helped start the clinic in 2006 in response to the health care gap left by Hurricane Katrina. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Faith-based free clinic serves community

Luke’s House, a free clinic in New Orleans started by United Methodists, grew out of a need after Hurricane Katrina closed most avenues to health care.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved