Caribbean L 12 ife, May 8-14, 2020
COVID-19 food program
By Tangerine Clarke
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, on
April 29, while practicing social distancing
outside Public School 6 on Snyder
Avenue, Brooklyn, was hands-on, during
a Covid-19 food giveaway, where she
packaged and shared bags of groceries to
District 17 residents.
Clarke thanked volunteers she said,
have been working day in and day out,
providing for “our community, to make
sure they have daily meals.”
“It is critical, many in our community
have been hit hard by the Covid 19
pandemic, some people were maybe furloughed,
while others, are unemployed,
and not receiving any financial support
right now, so it is important for the community
to come together to provide for
those who are finding it difficult to provide
for themselves and families,” said
Clarke.
She thanked Victoria Clarke, Dr. Zulema
Blair, Campaign Against Hunger, PS
6, Seeds in the Middle, and her office staff,
among others, for providing the service to
the community.
“We have to do our part. We cannot sit
back and watch people suffering, and not
do what we can to make sure they are provided
for,” said Congresswoman Clarke,
who protected herself with gloves, a face
mask, and braved the cold tempreture to
hand out food hampers.
Veronica Clarke, parent leader of District
17 told Caribbean Life outside, PS
6, that the food drive started six weeks
ago to help parents who needed food, and
other necessities to help them through
the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
A survey, sent out to parents in the district,
determined their urgent needs. To
date, over 75 parents have picked up bags
of groceries, shared out weekly. However,
donations of cleaning supplies are greatly
needed, said Veronica Clarke, whose
group partnered with elected officials to
start the outreach.
Dr. Zulema Blair added that, along with
Borough President Appointee Pam Harmon,
VP of CEC 17, parents via a survey
were asked to rate their needs after cries
for help were heard in community.
Food shortage was the greatest need,
followed by homework help, cleaning supplies
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke,
along with staff, helping to pack
a bag of produce outside PS 6, to
be shared to students of District 17.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke
and remote learning assistance.
Blair, also a Brooklyn Borough President
appointee for community education
District 17, reached out to the BP’s office,
that in turn received produce from food
giant, Fresh Direct.
Senator Zellnor Myrie and Assemblywoman
Diana C. Richardson, and other
organizations, including Seeds in the Middle
and Campaign Against Hunter, and
food pantries helped the program to circulate
essentials in the school district.
The program, being run only in District
17, receive donations to keep it going,
said Blair, who could be reached via emailzulemablair@
yahoo.com, or by calling
716-724-9916. Victoria Clarke could be
reached at 347-731-3122 for help.
Director of Seeds in the Middle, Nancy
Katz, whose organization started a farm
program in Crown-Heights schools in
2010 to encourage students with healthy
eating, is happy to be a part of the food
giveaway. She has also partnered with
Councilwomen Farah Louis and Alika
Ampry Samuel to help in their community.
She added that plans were in place
to create similar farms at schools in the
Brownsville and Flatbush communities,
but did not get the opportunity due to the
coronavirus pandemic.
Katz is also inviting foodies to log on to
http://www.tastesofbrooklyn.com, to help
restaurants survive during the Covid-19
pandemic.
GENUINE STATE O MAINE & CANADIAN
LOBSTER TAILS
MARKET 7am-7pm
RESTAURANT 11am-730pm
FRI SAT 11am-8:30pm
GPS: 3165 Harkness Ave
SHEEPSHEAD BAY BROOKLYN NY
LARGE SIZE
3 to a lb
/www.tastesofbrooklyn.com
link
link
/yahoo.com
/www.tastesofbrooklyn.com