Staff Report

MIAMI – Five hundred Overtown families joined City of Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado, Miami City Commission Chairman Keon Hardemon and the Overtown Neighborhood Enhancement Team (N.E.T.) at the city’s Third Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway. Residents received a turkey and sides such as corn bread, vegetables and spices for Thanksgiving dinner. The giveaway was sponsored by Brightline, the new intercity express train service that will travel from Orlando to Miami in record time starting in 2017. It currently travels from West Palm Beach to Miami.

Regalado, Hardemon and Overtown N.E.T joined forces with Brightline, DIBIA Dream, Miami Worldcenter, Top Value, Cox Media and the Richard Hallman Foundation to plan and host this year’s event. They successfully provided Thanksgiving meals, including turkeys and fresh produce, to local families who pre-registered with the Overtown N.E.T. office. Care Resource was also on hand to conduct

HIV/AIDS testing and participants received a small token of appreciation from the Southeast Overtown Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (SEOPW CRA).

“The City of Miami is proud to be part of this important initiative that helps those most in need during this special holiday season,” Regalado said. “I applaud Brightline for helping us make this event happen yet again. Together, we continue making a difference in the City of Miami.”

“We are happy to have the support of our community partners in helping our communities have decent meals,” added Hardemon.

“Brightline is committed to continuing its stewardship in the community and investing in our future neighborhood,” said Jose Gonzalez, Senior Vice President of Florida East Coast Industries. “For the second year in a row, we are partnering with Mayor Regalado and Chairman Hardemon on the turkey giveaway. This is just one of the many ways we are giving back in Historic Overtown.”