As many businesses remain closed and families still struggle with the repercussions of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Met Council, Council Member Stephen Levin, and the Williams Plaza Tenants Association distributed food to hundreds of families to get them through Yom Tov. Armed with 500 boxes fully packed with groceries, Councilman Levin and his staff distributed these kosher boxes to families to ensure they would have enough to eat before Shavuos in Williamsburg.
"Thank you to Met Council for their partnership in addressing critical food needs in Brooklyn and across New York City,” said Council Member Stephen Levin. “I am grateful to work alongside Met Council to ensure all of our communities' food access needs are be met and I look forward to continuing to partner to support families in Brooklyn."
The grocery boxes handed out by Councilman Levin were kosher mehadrin and included shelf-stable items like pasta, tuna, rice, and fresh fruits and vegetables that will help households get through this crisis. Personal protective equipment including masks and hand sanitizers were also handed out.
“We’re fortunate to have partners like Councilman Levin who cares so much about his community that he and his dedicated staff worked overtime to get these packages to the Williamsburg community. They ensured that families have the help they need during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said David Greenfield, Met Council CEO. “It is vitally important that all New Yorkers have safe access to basic necessities during this crisis.”
This week, Met Council along with Avi Greenstein of Boro Park JCC, Community Board 12 Chair Yidel Perlstein, and Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein and Councilman Kalman Yeger are distributing bulk items in Boro Park. Food for 500 more families will include boxes of Grape Juice, Egg Noodles, Rice Cakes, Flour, Chulent Mix, Pineapples, mixed Fresh Produce Boxes, Frozen Gefilte Fish, Cottage Cheese and many other items for families celebrating Shavous. The food will be given out under strict social distancing guidelines.
"What we have seen on the ground in Boro Park has been very tough," said Avi Greenstein, Executive Director of Boro Park JCC. "Families are struggling greatly to put food on their table before Yom Tov. With Met Council's help we will be able to serve 500 families in the community celebrate Yom Tov with the food that they need."
"This is what Met Council does best,” said Greenfield. "We find a need in the community and fill it. With partners on the ground in 75 communities across New York, we are able to ensure that every community has what they need before Yom Tov,” explained Met Council’s CEO.
Met Council is America’s largest Jewish tzedakah serving those in need. In response to coronavirus, Met Council has expanded its services and hours. Met Council offers six new services and a new 12 hour-a-day confidential hotline that anyone can call for help. You can reach a Met Council expert at their free coronavirus help hotline from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. at: 929-292 9261.