Last-Minute Thanksgiving Preparations Underway

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – At one New York City soup kitchen Thanksgiving Eve, teamwork and giving were one of the many ingredients for the perfect meal.

Marcus Redding came all the way from North Carolina to the Bowery Mission on the Lower East Side to volunteer this Thanksgiving. He's spent the last week helping prepare for the mission's biggest event of the year.

"I started at 4 o'clock this morning, we'll finish at 10 o'clock tonight so you're exhausted but it's absolutely amazing to see this many meals come together," he told CBS2's Tracee Carrasco.

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The pressure was on to get everything done, including the 677 turkeys, 3,500 pounds of potatoes, 2,800 pounds of yams and hundreds of gallons of gravy.

"I could have not have done it alone, so that's my thanks to them that they come and they give up their time," Bowery Mission Chef Trevor Mathura said.

The Bowery Mission will serve about 7,000 Thanksgiving meals in all five boroughs to those in need with the help of 600 volunteers.

"I think it means just as much to me as it does to the people we serve because it's just part of Thanksgiving," volunteer Nicholas De Marco said.

A snow storm before Thanksgiving made turkey dinner shopping and preparations a bit more challenging this year, especially for those who put off shopping until the last minute.

But many folks in New Jersey had no choice but to get out in the nasty weather.

"We picked up most of the turkey and other stuff," Mahwah, New Jersey, resident Allan Baldi told CBS2's Christine Sloan.

Picking up last minute trimmings Wednesday means having to drive on slushy and slippery roads.

Serena Shammas and her brother just wanted to get it done and get home.

"It's kind of dangerous and all," she said.

But dangerous roads did not keep people away from grocery stores across Bergen County and as Sloan reported, the parking lot of the Shop Rite in Ramsey was packed.

There were also long lines inside Lotito's, a popular deli and pastry shop across the street.

"This is our favorite place to get our holiday treats," Eric Aretsky said. "We're getting dinner rolls, some sugar-free desserts for people who have special dietary issues."

Despite the weather, many came out in droves to get their Lotito's fix.

"Everyone is coming in getting their pies and cakes," store manager Francine Askew said.

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