New York City communities are coming together to help those in need as Thanksgiving draws near. There is a strong sense of giving in Queens and Manhattan, where two different events showcased neighborhood initiatives to lessen the holiday stress on low-income families.
In Queens, the Greater Allen AME Cathedral and River Fund New York held big giveaways that included necessities for the winter months as well as food for the upcoming Thanksgiving feast. Amidst rising food prices and increasing insecurity, more than 1,000 turkeys and free bags of sides were given out at the AME Cathedral, according to ABC7NY. In a statement received by PIX11, River Fund New York founder Swami Durga Das stressed the need of group action, saying, “We all have to take action to help each other.”
Speaking about the mission’s urgency, Reverend Stephen Green, who is spending his first holiday season with Greater Allen AME Cathedral, told ABC7NY that their goal is to “address food insecurity, trying to address the issues facing our community in this moment of crisis and conflict.” In the meantime, the United Federation of Teachers held a coat drive and Thanksgiving holiday feast in Manhattan. A Thanksgiving meal and winter clothes were given to an estimated 200 public school students residing in temporary housing, giving them a sense of normalcy and comfort.
The hard economic realities that many New Yorkers face add to the impact of these events. According to a recent survey that ABC7NY highlighted, one in three New Yorkers have used food banks in the last three years, and their use has risen since the epidemic. Approximately 2,500 people received turkeys, groceries, toiletries, and clothing at River Fund New York’s event in Richmond Hill, which showcased a strong community reaction made possible by donations and local support.
According to Vanessa Vines, who told ABC7NY that she was grateful for the help, “Food is very expensive now, so it’s a blessing to be able to get this.” Gwendolyn Mitchell expressed her gratitude as well, calling the donation “Wonderful.” It’s fortunate. “You know and address things and everything that comes with it for the community that people don’t have.” The younger beneficiaries in Manhattan shared this emotion, as fifth-grader Johan Barrios and ten-year-old Ryan Garay acknowledged the generosity of the winter coat contributions and gave them a straightforward but impactful blessing in appreciation of the generosity of strangers.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
Leave a Reply