More Than One Ton of Food from BC to Local Food Pantries
4/16/2009
New York State Assemblywoman Rhoda S. Jacobs (42nd District) and Brooklyn College President Christoph M. Kimmich wrapped up a weeklong, campus-wide food drive to help restock local area food pantries with critically needed canned goods, baby food, and other nonperishable items. More than a ton of food was distributed to a dozen local nonprofit groups.
Joining President Kimmich and Assemblywoman Jacobs were representatives of some of the recipient organizations, as well as Brooklyn College students whose efforts made the drive a success. College students, departments, and offices contributed nearly a ton of food during the week-long drive.
With the economic crisis, food pantries across the borough have been hit hard by a recent decrease in donations, skyrocketing food prices, and as much as a 500 percent increase in the number of individuals and families in need. Some local pantries report they are on the verge of closing. A recent Marist Poll showed that this year about 48 percent of the City’s population, or three and a half million people, feel they will need food assistance from soup kitchens, food pantries and/or food stamps during the next twelve months. That number includes more than two million people who have never accessed such services before.
"There's simply not enough food to meet the needs of our community," said Assemblywoman Jacobs. "Because of this economic crisis, families are suffering. My office has partnered with Brooklyn College to help facilitate the needs of our local food pantries. On behalf of our community, I’m grateful for all the food and donations that we have received this week."
"We provide food for nearly three hundred and fifty people every Wednesday morning at our church," said Father Michael Perry, pastor of Our Lady of Refuge, who was at the event to pick up his church’s share of the food drive. "Thanks to Brooklyn College for being aware that there are people facing hunger in our district and for bringing relief to them."
"Over the past six months we’ve seen close to two thousand people coming to our food pantry per month, that’s up from two hundred and fifty-seven people last February," said Janet Miller, director of the nonprofit organization CAMBA’s homelessness prevention programs and legal services. CAMBA’s food pantry benefitted from the drive. "At the same time, we’ve seen a significant increase in food prices. And to make matters worse, many pantries have already closed their doors," she added.
"To be a model citizen is one of the primary goals of the Brooklyn College community," President Kimmich said, "and we pride ourselves on being a good neighbor—from working in schools to participating in the renewal of the Junction to putting a fresh coat of paint on a graffiti-spattered wall. The food drive gives us an opportunity to address the tremendous need of our local food pantries.
"I am deeply satisfied by how the campus community—and in particular, our students—has responded to this opportunity," the President concluded. 'Our good friend and neighbor Rhoda Jacobs has exercised great leadership in this important endeavor, and we all thank her."
Organizations invited to participate in the drive included Baptist Church of the Redeemer, Bnai Raphael Chesed Organization, CAMBA, Evangelical Crusade of Fishers of Men, Flatbush Reformed Church, Flatbush Tompkins Congregation Church, Holy Cross Church Food Pantry, Holy Innocents Church, Liberty Church of God, Oil of Joy Ministries, Our Lady of Refuge Roman Catholic, and Tomchei Shabbas of Flatbush and Boro Park.
