BROOKLYN, NY – Last Friday, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso hosted a Thanksgiving food distribution event at Brooklyn Borough Hall in partnership with UA3 and Hispanic Federation. Staff distributed over 50,000 pounds of fresh produce, non-perishables, and other food items to more than 140 houses of worship, community kitchens, and other community-based organizations addressing food insecurity and homelessness. The distribution event was made possible by the support of National Grid, Citizens, Wegmans, Hunts Point Produce Market, Optimum, and Ponce Bank.
“Thanksgiving is a reminder to slow down, practice gratitude, and enjoy the company of loved ones. However, for many Brooklynites, the holiday can exacerbate the hardships of food insecurity,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “While we have much work to do to ensure that no New Yorker goes hungry any day of the year, I’m so grateful to our incredible partners and my staff for putting delicious and nutritious food on holiday tables all over our borough. I wish all of Brooklyn a very joyous Thanksgiving!”
“As families and friends gather this week to celebrate the great American Thanksgiving holiday, UA3 is honored to partner with The Brooklyn Borough President and the Lions Club to provide fresh produce for hundreds of Brooklyn families,” said Don Hong, President of UA3, Inc. “Sharing healthy foods at a festive Thanksgiving table is an integral part of this treasured holiday and in our fight against food insecurity and in building community solidarity, we have a great partner in Borough President Antonio Reynoso.”
“We are proud to once again work with our community partners, including the office of the Brooklyn Borough President, to provide delicious turkey dinners to our fellow New Yorkers,” said Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation. “No one should go hungry in our city, not during the holidays or year-round. One warm meal can make an incredible difference in the lives of New Yorkers in need. Once again, thank you to our community members and the Brooklyn Borough President for coming together to support those in need during the holiday season. I look forward to our continued partnership.”
“National Grid is proud to partner with the Brooklyn Borough President to support community stakeholders and families in need during this holiday season,” said Aubrey Kellman, Senior Program Manager of Customer & Community Engagement at National Grid. “We are overjoyed to continue making efforts to create a more equitable Brooklyn.”
“Thanksgiving is all about community and we are proud to support our Brooklyn neighbors and ensure they are able to enjoy a warm, celebratory meal this holiday season,” said Rebecca O’Connell, NYC Metro Region Executive at Citizens. “We understand the strains that families are feeling and are honored to partner with Borough President Reynoso to give back to the communities we serve.”
“Wegmans is very excited to continue our partnership with Borough President Antonio Reynoso on the ‘Brooklyn For All’ Thanksgiving Food Distribution,” said Wegmans. “As a family company we are dedicated to living by our values and continue to do so by supporting community-based food providers in fighting food insecurities. As a community partner we look forward to continuing this collaboration and further assisting our Brooklyn family for the Thanksgiving holiday.”
“Last Friday marked a significant milestone for Hunts Point Produce Market as we joined forces with the Brooklyn Borough President to address a critical need in our community,” said Phillip Grant, CEO of Hunts Point Produce Market. “Our collaborative effort led to the successful donation of fresh, nutritious produce, directly supporting families in need across Brooklyn and New York City. This initiative not only reflects our commitment to fostering social mobility and fighting hunger but also showcases the power of partnerships in making a tangible impact. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve our community and remain dedicated to exploring innovative ways to contribute positively to society’s well-being.”
“Optimum is proud to support Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso’s annual Thanksgiving Distribution, through which thousands of pounds of food are distributed to non-profit organizations across Brooklyn to provide meals to residents in need for Thanksgiving,” said Vic Pascarelli, Vice President, General Manager of Optimum Northeast. “Optimum thanks Borough President Reynoso and his office for this partnership and their focus on serving the community’s needs.”
“Brooklyn is an integral part of the Ponce Bank family. As such, we are integrally involved in finding ways to help the residents of Brooklyn to live better lives and achieve whatever they set out to do,” said Carlos Naudon, President of Ponce Bank. “We’re also fully cognizant of the issue of food insecurity that all too many families are experiencing. Once again, we’re pleased to team up with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso to provide and distribute food bags to our neighbors who are experiencing this food insecurity. We’ll be handing out Thanksgiving food bags to make for a happier holiday to those in need. Again, we’re thrilled to partner with Borough President Reynoso to make this undertaking successful. Ponce Bank wishes all residents of Brooklyn and beyond a Happy Thanksgiving holiday 2023!”
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