10
QUEENS WEEKLY, DECEMBER 29, 2019
Queens pols visit Flushing pantry to distribute meals
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
City Councilmembers Peter
Koo and Daniel Dromm visited
the South Asian Council for
Social Services (SACSS) South
Asian Food Pantry in Flushing
on Dec. 13, joining staff and
volunteers in distributing prepared
meals.
Koo and Dromm interacted
with community members in
line to receive food and experienced
a first-hand account of
the operation at SACSS Food
Pantry, located at 143-06 45th
Ave.
“Our heartfelt thanks to our
elected officials, Council Members
Peter Koo & Daniel Dromm,
for their support to the South
Asian Food Pantry,” said Sudha
Acharya, SACSS executive director.
“Their presence at the
pantry is a testament of their
acknowledgement of the rising
problem of hunger and food insecurity
in our communities.”
The South Asian Food Pantry
opened its doors in July 2016
serving low-income and underserved
South Asian and other
immigrants in New York City
— with particular emphasis on
Queens. Many pantry recipients
are immigrants isolated in their
homes or communities, have
low education levels, and high
unemployment rates — all of
which intensifies their poverty
and risk for poor nutrition.
The South Asian Food Pantry
distributes food to about 25
to 30 clients every week. Today,
it has grown to serve over 5,970
individuals — annually, with
350 families getting food every
week. The pantry serves healthy
vegetarian meals which suits
the palate, as well as religious
beliefs of its clients — particularly
Hindus, Jains, and Muslim
clients.
Nutritious food items that
are basic to the South Asian diet
such as rice, dal (lentils), atta
(whole wheat flour) and spices
(chili powder, cumin, turmeric,
coriander powder, and mustard
seeds). The pantry also provides
fresh seasonal produce such as
vegetables and fruit, milk, cereal,
oatmeal, pasta and bread.
The South Asian Food Pantry
is open every Friday from 10:30
a.m. to 2 p.m. and gives clients
the freedom to choose their own
food which they can use to make
meals that match their personal
dietary preferences.
Acknowledging the diversity
of the clientele that is served by
SACSS, Koo expressed that SACSS
is one of the “most successful,
inclusive and much-needed
social service organization” in
Queens.
“The South Asian Council
on Social Services has the city’s
only South Asian food pantry
that caters to all, including various
cultural, vegetarian and
religious dietary restrictions,”
Koo said. “My office has funded
this organization over the past
eight years because of its dedication
and commitment to inclusion,
and I look forward to
seeing them grow and succeed
in their mission to empower and
integrate the South Asian and
immigrant communities.”
Meanwhile, Dromm thanked
the volunteers and staff for
their commitment and dedication
in ensuring that community
members received vital food
services.
“I was humbled to see the
large number of clients SACSS
serves who are in need of food,”
Dromm said. “I am pleased that
SACSS is meeting the needs
of the South Asian and East
Asian communities by serving
nutritious food specific to their
home countries which is often
unavailable at other pantries.
Providing food and services
that are culturally competant
is important to our immigrant
communities. I am proud to allocate
funding for this important
endeavor.”
Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed
by e-mail at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com or by phone
at (718) 260–4526.
(From l. to r.) Mysore Gandhi (SACSS Board Secretary), Devi Ramchandran
(SACSS Board Vice President), Sudha Acharya (SACSS Executive Director),
NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm, NYC Council Member Peter Koo and SACSS
volunteer Lilavati Patel at the South Asian Food Pantry in Flushing.
Photo courtesy of South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS)
/schnepsmedia.com
