BY TODD MAISEL
A cadre of volunteers, including
famed actor Tracy
Morgan, gathered in Bedford-
Stuyvesant on Saturday to give
out free Thanksgiving meals to
Brooklynites struggling amid
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Morgan joined the nonprofi
t Food Bank For New York
City and Councilman Robert
Cornegy outside the Sumner
Houses at Myrtle Avenue and
Marcus Garvey Boulevard,
where they passed out around
1,000 turkeys and bags of side
dishes ahead of Thursday’s holiday.
“I’m happy to be able to give
something back to the community,”
said Morgan, who grew
up in the nearby Tompkins
Houses NYCHA complex. “I’m
glad I can help these residents,
and make life easier for the
community knowing they have
food.”
Cornegy, the area’s rep in
the city legislature who is running
COURIER L 4 IFE, NOV. 27-DEC. 3, 2020
for borough president,
helped shepherd hordes of
Brooklynites waiting in line
throughout the morning to receive
their holiday care packages
— and commended the
Emmy-nominated actor for returning
to his hometown and
helping his old neighbors.
“This means everything to
have people from the communities
that they were raised in, to
come back and recommit themselves
to families, friends, and
children, that’s the greatest
inspiration we need,” said Cornegy.
“During this very tough
Tracy Morgan takes a picture with residents during a turkey drive giveaway. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
time, the pandemic has exacerbated
every single inequity
that we have, so having people
ready willing and able to come
back and commit themselves,
through word and through
deed, and to bring other people
along is amazing.”
Cornegy also complimented
the volunteers, who weathered
the cold out of the goodness of
their hearts to help their fellow
Brooklynites.
“We have enough volunteers
and that is amazing,” he
said. “We have people willing
to give back, even if they are
not stars, even if they are not
politicians — the community
is out here making sure that
seniors get their baskets taken
to their cars, making sure it’s
well organized...It’s just a beautiful
experience.”
The food drive came amid
a fi nancially devastating time
for Brooklyn, where the unemployment
rate has climbed to
14 percent — nearly four times
higher than the 3.9 percent unemployment
rate last year.
Those who lined up to receive
their free meals praised
the effort, saying the giveaway
helped restore a sense of festivity
to the holiday season.
“I wasn’t sure what I was
going to do for Thanksgiving,
this changes my plans a little
bit. I will have family over. I
need some type of normality,”
added resident Milton Hiller.
Spreading
some cheer
Actor Tracy Morgan helps give
away turkeys in Bed-Stuy
/organized...It