Queens Gazette

Catholic Charities Hosts Pop-Up Food Distribution


Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens hosted its second Pop-Up Food Distribution at the Catholic Charities Therese Cervini Early Childhood Development Center located at 35-33 104th Street in Corona on Friday, April 17 for families and individuals in the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grab-and-go style event provided families and individuals with bags of food that will feed a family of three for three days. Catholic Charities prepared 1,000 bags which included an array 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 fish, peanut butter, microwaveable macaroni and cheese, cereals, packets of mayonnaise and jelly, applesauce and black beans.

“Just from last week, the lines at all of our food pantries have doubled. It’s because people are out of work and looking for help,” said Richard Slizeski, Senior Vice President for Mission, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens. “During our first pop-up event here, we distributed 750 bags of food for about 5,000 meals. Today we’re distributing 1,000 bags of food totaling approximately 8,000 meals and we don’t think it will be enough.” 60 percent of the COVID-19 cases in New York City are in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens.

Catholic Charities also provided access to additional assistance, information and resources, including outreach material encouraging an already undercounted neighborhood to participate and self-respond to the 2020 Census.

“We are pushing for the 2020 Census,” said Mr. Slizeski. “As we all know, if you’re counted by the Census, that means more resources will come to your community, including better representation in your community. We want the community to be cognizant of that.”

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is responding to the hardworking families in this primarily immigrant neighborhood by providing pop-up food pantries, access to supportive services via their call center and behavioral health services via telehealth.

In the past two weeks, 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. Two weeks ago, 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 their neighbors in need in both boroughs. To donate to Catholic Charities Brooklyn Queens go to: www.ccbq.org.

Photos Courtesy Catholic Charities Brooklyn & Queens
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens’ Pop-Up Food Distribution at the Catholic Charities Therese Cervini Early Childhood Development Center in Corona (video can be seen at vimeo.com/409001593).

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