GOOD DEEDS ment of my career.”
Continued from page 1
ordered food as part of its annual
Passover giveaway, but rather than
have congregants wait inside the W.
Fifth Street synagogue, the Rabbi
decided to distribute it outside to
passersby. In total, the congregation
gave thousands of pounds of
vegetables, fruit, eggs, and Passover
food to more than 500 families,
Okunov said.
“Their faces were beaming with
joy,” he said. “It was a priceless mo-
COURIER L 20 IFE, MARCH 20-26, 2020
Another Jewish community
group is working to get free meals to
Coney Islanders in need. The Jewish
Community Council of Western
Coney Island has converted its
five senior centers in Coney Island,
Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend, and
Homecrest into efficent food distribution
sites where locals and pick
up free breakfasts and lunches, according
to council’s executive director.
“‘Grab and Go’ meals are full,
nutritionally balanced meals as
would be served in the senior center
when congregate meal service
was open,” said Rabbi Moshe Wiener.
Meanwhile, a Coney Island pol
is pushing the city and state to contract
with local restaurants to deliver
food to homebound residents
at a discounted price — which
would provide relief both to struggling
businesses and homebound
residents.
“There are restaurants sitting
idle and hungry people who need
to stay home. This is how we can
support our communities. This is
a win-win,” said Assemblywoman
Mathylde Frontus.
Many southern Brooklyn restaurants
could remain af loat by charging
$6.50 per meal, according to
several restaurant owners, meaning
that a hungry senior could pay
just $13 for two hot-delivered meals,
Frontus said.
The program would also allow
food deliverers to monitor the
health of vulnerable New Yorkers,
keeping health officials up to date
on the coronavirus’ spread.
“There are people who need
care,” Frontus said. “Out of sight
does not mean out of mind.”
FREE FOOD: A March 17 food giveaway distributed more than 2,000 pounds of onions and
potatoes, as well as a range of other food.
RESTAURANT CRAWL: Steven Patzer (right) led a group of Brooklynites on a Bensonhurst
restaurant crawl to patronize affected small businesses on March 15.
Colon (large intestine)
cancer is the number 2 cancer
killer in New York City. Ask
your doctor about screening
options today. Screening may
start with a colonoscopy or a
simple stool-based test.
For more information about
colon cancer, call 311 or visit
nyc.gov/health.
“I’m alive because I wasn’t afraid to ask.” 45 OR OLDER?
ASK ABOUT COLON
CANCER SCREENING.
/health
