In a holiday effort aimed at lifting spirits, inmates at a federal correctional facility in New Jersey received a special Thanksgiving meal this year, organized and funded by a high-profile prisoner.
The initiative saw turkeys and accompanying sides prepared and delivered to every housing unit at the low-security Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix over a two-day period. The project was coordinated internally with a group of incarcerated individuals, sourcing food from the prison commissary to create a holiday dinner for the population.
Reflecting on the effort, the individual behind it noted the particular difficulty of the holiday season for those separated from their families. “Thanksgiving is about making sure other people eat,” he was quoted as saying. “People get depressed during the holidays. We wanted to come together and do our own thing.”
Logistics presented a significant challenge, as standard kitchen tools are not available within the prison. Inmates reportedly improvised, using items like identification cards to prepare ingredients in the absence of knives and cooking appliances.
A fellow inmate involved in the preparation estimated that enough food for approximately 200 people per building was made. “It took two days to prep everything,” he stated.
The organizer, currently serving a sentence on unrelated charges, was transferred to the New Jersey facility in late October. He has spoken about his experience, describing a sense of community among the men. “There is a strong brotherhood. We all look out for each other,” he said. “It’s like a little bit of home in a dark place.”
The special meal provided a contrast to the standard, minimal holiday fare typically offered in correctional settings. The facility’s standard menu for the day included a turkey roast with sides.
