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BROOKLYN WEEKLY, MARCH 22, 2020
BROOKLYN PAYS IT FORWARD
Locals help struggling restaurants and neighbors in need
BY ROSE ADAMS
As coronavirus continues to
spread across the city, several
southern Brooklynites have come
together to help their neighbors
in a time of need — spearheading
food giveaways, meal delivery services,
and restaurant crawls.
The efforts began on March 15,
when a Coney Island do-gooder led
a handful of residents on a Chinese
restaurant food crawl in Bensonhurst.
“Restaurants are hurting and
jobs and family businesses may be
lost due to prolonged shut downs
and reduced seating,” said Steven
Patzer, a Gravesend resident who
hosted the event.
The group ordered food from
six eateries, including 86 Bakery,
Mr. Bun, and Chen Won Dim Sum
— which have suffered up to a 70
percent drop in business, Patzer
said. Attendees ate mostly outside
and used hand sanitizer as a precaution,
he added.
On March 17, a Coney Island
synagogue hosted a food giveaway
to help struggling locals.
“Key Food was out of stock of
eggs, potatoes, and onions, so people
who simply couldn’t get food
locally were so grateful we provided
it for free,” said Rabbi David
Okunov of the Warbasse Jewish
Heritage Congregation.
In total, the congregation gave
thousands of pounds of food to
more than 500 families, Okunov
said.
“Their faces were beaming
with joy,” he said. “It was a priceless
moment of my career.”
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 fi ve senior centers in Coney
Island, Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend,
and Homecrest into 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 afl oat 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 offi cials up to date
on the coronavirus’ spread.
“There are people who need
care,” Frontus said. “Out of sight
does not mean out of mind.”
GIVEAWAY: Rabbi David Okunov (above) hosted a food giveaway outside a Neptune
Avenue Key Food on March 17. Photo by CNG Photo
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