BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP DECEMBER 1 - DECEMBER 7, 2017 41
Ridge, Dyker, Bensonhurst Relay team
participates in wing-off for cancer
BY MEAGHAN MCGOLDRICK
MMCGOLDRICK@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
As part of a nationwide effort
for an already national cause,
on Friday, November 17, supporters
of Relay for Life events across
the country took part in a special
fundraiser for the cancer research
stalwart called King of the Wing.
Among them were the Bay Ridge,
Bensonhurst and Dyker Heights team.
The food-focused fundraiser – in
which teams of three men and three
women gathered at their own locales for
a 10-minute chicken wing-eating contest
– sought to find out which Relay group
BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by Arthur de Gaeta
Scenes from the chicken wing-eating contest to benefit
could collect the most
donations in such a short
period of time, with all
proceeds going to the Bay
Ridge-Bensonhurst-Dyker
Heights Relay for Life
for the American Cancer
Society.
Whoever earned the most “bucks
per cluck” would be crowned King
of the Wing.
After all was said and done, the
Relay team from Grand Island, New
York took home the title, raising over
$7,000 with just one team. In total, all
teams raised over $46,000.
The southern Brooklyn team competed
for the title at the Salty Dog,
7509 Third Avenue, in two increments,
with one team chowing down
in the afternoon, and two more teams
taking their turn in the evening. The
Ridge/Dyker/'Hurst team brought in
over $5,200.
Less than a mile away, the MCU Park
Relay team competed at Kettle Black,
8622 Third Avenue, also bringing in
over $7,000.
All in all, 33 teams and 26 relays
participated in the King of the Wing.
Relay for Life.
Sunset Park Lions Club distributes 200 turkeys to families in need
BY JAIME DEJESUS
JDEJESUS@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
Sunset Park gave back in a big
way during one of the year's
most important holidays.
On Tuesday, November 21, the
Sunset Park Lion's Club made
Thanksgiving day a bit brighter for
struggling families by distributing
hundreds of turkeys throughout the
area.
"The Sunset Park’s Lions Club has
been in existence for 40 years and
every year we do a turkey drive," said
President of the club George Cardona.
"During the turkey drive, I collect
funds from the club and sometimes
I get local businesses to donate. This
year, we got enough funds to get 200
turkeys and we distributed them in
the area. Sometimes, we’ll give them
to the local churches like Our Lady
of Perpetual Help and St. Agatha, as
well as organizations like the United
Senior Center in Sunset Park. The
rest goes to individual families. We
give them to people in need in the
area."
According to Cardona, there has
recently been a greater need for turkeys
than ever before. "What we are
finding out now is it’s not just poor
people looking for turkeys but working
people as well," he explained.
"People that are actually working and
living paycheck to paycheck can use
these turkeys. It’s an eye-opening
experience. It’s not just for people
on welfare."
The day means a lot to the club,
which gives back throughout the
year, including collecting goods this
year for hurricane victims in Puerto
Rico and Texas. "We are always trying
to give back to the community," he
said. "People are so appreciative. You
see people at churches and on streets
thanking us for what we do. Again,
it's just giving back and thanking the
community and it's a great feeling.
Here at the Lions, the model is that
we serve."
The group also plans to participate
in a Three Kings event at Industry
City.
Photo courtesy of the Sunset Park Lions Club
The Sunset Park Lions Club distributed turkeys during
Thanksgiving.