16 APRIL 16, 2020 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens hosted its Pop-Up Food Distribution in Corona serving 750 families impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Photos courtesy of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
CMOHAMED@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and
Queens served 750 families at its
Pop-Up Food Distribution on April
8 in Corona.
The grab-and-go style event was held
at the Catholic Charities Therese Cervini
Early Childhood Development Center
located at 35-33 104th St. in Corona, an
area which has been severely impacted
by the coronavirus pandemic. Individuals
were given bags of food that will feed
a family of three for three days.
Catholic Charities prepared 750 bags
which included an array of fresh fruits
and vegetables, beverages and nonperishable
goods.
Some additional items consisted of
apples, oranges, lemons, raisins, bread,
Gatorade, apple juice, instant coffee,
rice, cans of fruit, tuna fi sh, peanut butter,
microwavable macaroni and cheese,
cereals, packets of mayonnaise and jelly,
applesauce and black beans.
Catholic Charities also provided access
to additional assistance, information,
and resources. About 60 percent of
the coronavirus cases in New York City
are located in the boroughs of Queens
and Brooklyn.
“The need is very great, obviously, due
to the economic impact of not having
jobs,” said Richard Slizeski, senior vice
president, Offi ce of Mission, Catholic
Charities of Brooklyn and Queens. “We
chose here in Corona, right here at the
Therese Cervini Early Childhood Development
Center, at Our Lady of Sorrows
Parish, really to give an opportunity to
the community, and to be able to serve
them in this time of great need.”
“Part of this whole thing has been to
really help out people,” Slizeski added.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and
Queens is responding to the hardworking
families in the primarily immigrant
neighborhood by providing pop-up food
pantries, access to supportive services
via its call center and behavioral health
services via telehealth.
In the past week, Catholic Charities
Brooklyn and Queens has seen a 50 percent
increase in the need for hot meals
to be delivered to isolated seniors. On
average, the agency distributes 5,000
meals, but as a result of the coronavirus
outbreak, Catholic Charities is delivering
8,000 meals weekly.
Food pantry distributions have also
increased. On average, the agency distributes
83,000 meals per month within its
food pantry network. Last week Catholic
Charities saw a 20 percent increase across
its 20 parish-based food pantries.
The Pop-Up Food Distribution is
organized and funded by Catholic Charities
Brooklyn and Queens as a direct
response to neighbors in need in both
boroughs.
ACTS OF KINDNESS
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens serves
750 families at Pop-Up Food Distribution event
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