RISE Hosts a Thanksgiving Feast
Photos and Story
By Theresa M Racine
On Saturday, November 18, RISE gave back to the community by hosting an early community Thanksgiving feast. This was their sixth year bringing a free feast to the peninsula. RISE partnered up with several restaurants and local businesses to dish up some goodies, including Batesy’s, Cassey’s Cookies & Cobblers, Goody’s, Cuisine by Claudette, La Cevicheria, Rockaway Beach Bakery and Rockaway Food Initiative. Everyone was treated to turkey, stuffing, collard greens, cookies, pies, and much more. Many at RISE volunteered their time to dish out helpings.
RISE’s Thanksgiving event fills up quickly and a waiting list often forms as it gets closer to the event. This year, RISE served about 130 people. So those interested in attending next year are encouraged to keep a lookout for the event announcement early on at their website or sign up for their newsletter at: www.riserockaway.org
According to RISE founder and executive director, Jean DuPont, one of the nonprofit’s goals for 2024 is bringing more healthy initiatives to the peninsula. This would be in addition to their many current services including a farm share and market in the summer, free exercise classes like chair yoga led by certified yoga instructor Ruth Graves, who also works at the YMCA, and more. RISE also serves as a hub for artists and scientists, regularly hosting public art exhibitions and resilience activities and workshops, especially for youth.
RISE is located at 58-03 Rockaway Beach Blvd. in an old firehouse.
