Helping Depleted Food Pantries
Elina Bolokhova
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Brooklyn College partnered with New York State Assemblywoman Rhoda S. Jacobs last week to sponsor a successful food drive for the Midwood neighborhood at a time when local food pantries cannot meet the increasing demand from the community.
The weeklong food drive culminated on Thursday, when College President Christoph M. Kimmich, students and community members gathered in the Glenwood room at Bryant Park with empty boxes to collect canned and fresh goods for a dozen local food pantries. But the donations kept coming in until Friday. Students went out to local supermarkets during their lunch hour to purchase products and contribute to the drive. More than one ton of food was collected, which included fresh fruit, freshly baked cookies and baby formula.
"It was an act of love," said Sonia Valentin, a senior majoring in journalism and a chair of the Food Drive Committee, "everyone got involved and said 'I want to make a difference.'"
The food drive came at a time when the current economic crisis is hitting hard at dinner tables across the country. According to the Food Bank for New York City, the number of New Yorkers having difficulty affording food has risen to approximately four million in 2008. Studies also indicate that there is a steadily increasing number of New Yorkers with higher income and education levels experiencing hardships when it comes to putting food on the table.
According to Janet Miller, director of the nonprofit organization CAMBA's homelessness prevention programs and legal services, the CAMBA food pantry has seen an increase in attendance over the last six months - as much as 2000 people per month, up from 257 from last year. Food pantries across the country are now welcoming a different breed of customer, who is facing financial crises for the first time.
Assemblywoman Jacobs recognized the growing need in her district and decided to respond, according to a representative. "Because of this economic crisis, families are suffering. My office has partnered with Brooklyn College to help facilitate the needs of our local food pantries. On behalf of our community, I'm grateful for all the food and donations that we have received this week," Jacobs said.
The turnout from Brooklyn College was plentiful and the drive was deemed a success. Sameen Farooq, a junior double majoring in political science and biology, said that while he did not donate, he still intends to contribute by going to Target and seeing what he can get for the cause. A Passover food drive will come on the heels of this food drive. Farooq said that he does his best to participate in community volunteerism.
"I do keep up with whatever is going on and do my part to raise awareness," he said.
A total of twelve food pantries benefitted from the event. The list of participants included Baptist Church of the Redeemer, Bnai Raphael Chesed Organization, CAMBA, Evangelical Crusade of Fishers of Men, Flatbush Reformed Church, Flatbush Tompkins Congregation Church, Holy Cross Church Food Pantry, Holy Innocents Church, Liberty Church of God, Oil of Joy Ministries, Our Lady of Refuge Roman Catholic, and Tomchei Shabbas of Flatbush and Boro Park.
"They were balled over," Valentin said of the food pantry representatives. "They were so thankful and so grateful. They said it was a blessing."
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