Thursday was Steve Cofone’s first Thanksgiving Day volunteering at Mercy Soup Kitchen in Wyandanch helping to serve about 175 people a hot lunch of turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes.

Cofone, a cancer survivor who had a heart attack in August, and other soup kitchen volunteers handed folks peanut butter sandwiches, milk and bagels before they walked out the door.

"I lived to tell about it," said Cofone, of Copiague, becoming emotional as he spoke. "God gave me a second chance. I want to pay it forward."

Cofone was among more than a dozen volunteers working on Thursday. They include a school crossing guard, a car dealership salesman, an insurance claims manager and retirees from all walks of life.

The soup kitchen is open year-round Mondays through Fridays and is staffed by more than 1

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