Met Council celebrated the grand opening of the Chesed Center, a brand-new social service hub to address the needs of the frum community of Boro Park during these unprecedented times. Social services and direct food assistance will be provided by Met Council to support the community and help families struggling in the wake of the pandemic and the economic downturn.
Balloons, popcorn, cotton candy, and other snacks were given out to community members and their children in celebration of the grand opening on Wednesday, May 5. Thanks in part to the UJA-Federation of New York, this Met Council hub will provide free kosher food and groceries, assistance with applying for benefits and entitlements, job program enrollment and legal aid, as well as support for seniors in need. All services are free, confidential, and offered in Yiddish, Hebrew, Russian, and Spanish. The new hub is located at 4319 14th Avenue in Boro Park and will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays. Appointments can be made by calling 718-608-7065.
“Opening this new hub will allow us to reach even more people in Boro Park with the help they need and the best-in-class services they deserve,” said David G. Greenfield, the CEO of Met Council. “After so many jobs and small businesses were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, this new hub will allow us to ensure that all in the frum community are getting the benefits they need, the groceries they can’t afford, and any other assistance they require.”
The Chesed Center hub will have staff on hand to assist clients with SNAP applications, Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, and other safety net benefits from the city, state, and federal government. Met Council’s multilingual staff will help Boro Park residents with everything from Section 8 and rent freeze programs to emergency and Shabbos food packages. Immigration assistance and legal aid can also be found at the new hub. Those looking for work can sign up for career training and employment services, while specialized support will be offered for seniors and Holocaust survivors. Additionally, as part of Met Council’s efforts to reach more survivors of abuse, our Family Violence Services will be provided at the new Chesed Center hub by our trained and culturally sensitive staff.
Since the pandemic started, Met Council’s food programs have helped feed over 305,000 New Yorkers and counting. When COVID-19 hit, Met Council dramatically escalated its food and grocery programs, launching a massive home delivery operation, opening a new warehouse in Greenpoint, and expanding its network of food pantries to help serve homebound families, seniors, and Holocaust survivors.