New York Giants’ Justin Tuck leads Florham Park turkey drive

FLORHAM PARK – New York Giants great Justin Tuck joined the Summit Medical Group Foundation to collect turkeys for residents in need the Friday before Thanksgiving.

The Super Bowl-winning defensive end and the organization collected frozen turkeys, canned protein, canned fruits and vegetables, boxed non-perishables and peanut butter to benefit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

“We have a huge platform as athletes to try to give back, and there are a lot of people in our area who need help,” Tuck said. “This is a great opportunity to lend a helping hand and I’m blessed to be in a position to do that.”

Tuck posed with every employee and fan who stopped by with an item of food. The happiest of the bunch may have been Summit Atlantic Surgery Center employee Valeria Bowman-Gardner. She came decked out in Giants gear and had Tuck sign her jacket.

“This is all day for me, everyday,” Bowman-Gardner said of her Giants fandom.

TURKEY TROT:Morris Township Turkey Trot set for Thanksgiving morning

SHE SAID YES!:Morris County sheriff's officer gets the burglars and the girl

The Summit Medical Group’s Florham Park headquarters is located just a few hundred feet from the New York Jets practice facility, and with the team on their bye week, linebacker Demario Davis stopped by to help out.

“It’s nothing for me to come out. I’m here to support what Justin’s doing,” Davis said. “To see guys like him continue to give back, in Florham Park where I live, it’s amazing to see.”

The Community FoodBank will distribute 22,000 frozen turkeys to New Jersey residents before the holiday. They have been traveling to a new county each day to pass out food to local organizations, who will then distribute them to those in need.

More than one million New Jersey residents are food insecure, including 300,000 children who go to bed hungry every night, according to the FoodBank.

“This helps us in our desire to promote hunger as a health issue,” said Debby Scheinholtz, Director of Corporate Relations for Community FoodBank. “And it allows more people to have a great Thanksgiving with their families.

The foundation also collected money, which will be used to purchase more turkeys for the Community FoodBank.

Summit Medical Group’s Dr. Adam Barrison, participated Friday morning along with his 12-year-old son, Cayden, selling paper plates people can sign their name to for $5 apiece. Each one sold benefited the FoodBank and providing 15 meals for those in need.

In all, Cayden  Barrison raised $3,500 with the fundraiser, which he did as part of his Bar Mitzvah project.

“With that money we can feed a lot of people this Thanksgiving,” Cayden Barrison said. “That people in New Jersey are hungry every day means we should help out and get people fed.”

At the Summit Medical Group’s other locations, people were also invited to purchase plates to benefit the FoodBank at their corporate cafeterias.

Summit Medical Group Foundation used the funds raised from employees to purchase 600 turkeys from Barth’s Market in New Providence, which were given to Community FoodBank Friday morning.

“It’s important for us to give back to the community,” Summit Medical Group Foundation Executive Director Joe Finocchiaro said. “Especially around the holidays, we try to help those in need.”

The Community FoodBank will have donation drop-offs set up this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at ShopRite of Greater Morristown, 178 Hanover Ave in Cedar Knolls, and the Parsippany ShopRite at 808 Route 46. Smartworld Coffee, 2 Broadway in Denville, will also have a drop-off from 9 a.m. to noon.

Go to http://www.cfbnj.org/turkey to learn about the Community FoodBank’s other turkey drives, and how to donate.

People can also donate at http://www.smg-foundation.org/

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com