Brooklyn, NY- Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, and Council Members Brad Lander, Michael Nelson, Jumaane D. Williams, David Greenfield and Domenic M. Recchia, joined the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, City Harvest and Food Bank at the Midwood branch of Masbia to distribute fresh produce and turkeys donated by the Council and the UFCW.
UFCW provided Masbia with 50 turkeys for Thursday’s Thanksgiving dinner. The produce was donated through the City Council Community Supported Agriculture program, an initiative launched by Speaker Quinn last April to increase access to locally sourced fruits
and vegetables.
“We all need to do our part in the fight against hunger,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “Today’s generous donations will help make sure Brooklyn families don’t go hungry this holiday season. Thanks to the hard work of Masbia, and the contributions from the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, City Harvest and Food Bank, we can rest a little easier, knowing that the city’s most vulnerable New Yorkers are getting the assistance they need.”
“Speaker Quinn has been very helpful to Masbia, and to the poor and hungry of the city,” said Alexander Rapaport, Executive Director of Masbia. “Masbia has received direct financial support from the Council, and this year, received the excess of the Council CSA produce, for which we’re very grateful. It’s a challenge to run a soup kitchen serving 500 hot dinners every night, and the Speaker and the City Council are doing their parts to keep our lights open.”
“We thank Speaker Quinn for her steadfast leadership in the fight against hunger. She not only repeatedly calls attention to the problem, she also offers common-sense, affordable public policy
solutions to address it,” said Joel Berg, Executive Director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger.
“United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 and Fairway Markets are always eager to work with New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn to bring some relief to families during these very difficult economic times,” said Bruce W. Both, President UFCW Local 1500. “We commend the Speaker and those who operate Masbia Soup Kitchen for their compassion and dedication. Hopefully all New Yorkers can keep working together to end the problem of hunger that affects far too many New Yorkers.”
“Demand for food has stretched many emergency feeding programs to their limits, and City Harvest is working around the clock to put food on the table for hungry families in time for Thanksgiving,” said City Harvest Executive Director Jilly Stephens. “Thank you to our donors and partners for stepping forward with donations like today’s which are so desperately needed.”
###