The Queens Jewish Community Council (QJCC), 56 years strong, successfully distributed Passover food packages this past Sunday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. Rabbi Mayer Waxman, Executive Director, led the drive from the morning delivery, courtesy of the Met Council, as cases of food were dropped curbside - enough to feed some 1,000 recipients from approximately 300 local families.
Some 35 volunteers and staff then transported boxes and assembled packages for distribution. As the afternoon descended, recipients began to arrive and the packages were systematically distributed. A final group of volunteers assisted in cleaning up the venue and transported leftovers to the QJCC headquarters at Jewel Avenue and Main Street for distribution as part of the QJCC’s food pantry program.
In attendance were NY State Senator John Liu, Aaron Cyperstein on behalf of Met Council, President Barry Grodenchik, past presidents Warren Hecht and Michael Nussbaum, and a consistent flow of Board Members throughout the day.
As the non-denominational, equal opportunity umbrella organization representing and uniting more than 130 Jewish organizations in Queens, QJCC’s staff have become the go-to for Queens rabbis and community leaders who have a congregant or member with a social service need. Aside from assisting residents with guidance on benefits, entitlements, and insurance, QJCC provides a kosher walk-in food pantry, as well as delivered, prepared kosher meals for home-bound community members. QJCC serves to represent Queens to citywide Jewish organizations such as the UJA-Federation of NY and the Jewish Community Relations Council of NY, and in turn is the Queens location for disseminating relevant agenda items from such organizations among Jewish leaders in Queens.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
