In 2022, group distributed over 20 million pounds of food to 325,000
people in New York State
More than 350 elected officials, dignitaries, and community leaders lauded the Met Council, America’s largest Jewish charity dedicated to serving the needy, for its work distributing over 20 million pounds of food to more than 325,000 New Yorkers in 2022. The event was held at The Yale Club just prior to the start of the Salute to Israel Parade.
The distinguished crowd at this year’s event included New York Gov. Kathy Hochul; US Senate Majority Leader Charles “Chuck” Schumer; Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader of the US House of Representatives; Congressman Jerrold Nadler; New York State Attorney General Letitia James; New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli; New York City Mayor Eric Adams; Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine; Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson; Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; New York City Deputy Police Commissioner Edward Cabán; New York City Housing Preservation & Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr.; Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark; Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez; Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
Israel Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat and Acting Consul General of Israel in New York Israel Nitzan also were in attendance.
“It has been more than 50 years since Met Council first opened its doors, and we’ve never experienced the level of government partnership on the city, state, and federal levels before. We’re incredibly grateful,” said Met Council CEO David G. Greenfield. “Each of the officials, elected and appointed, who joined us at our legislative breakfast spoke loudly and clearly – that no community should be marginalized and every New Yorker in need deserves all the help we can give them. That’s the essence of what Met Council does.”
This year’s gathering paid special tribute to Rep. Jeffries; New York State Senator Roxanne Persaud and Assembly member Daniel Rosenthal; UJA-Federation of New York CEO Eric Goldstein; Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr.; Senior Advisor to Mayor Adams, Joel Eisdorfer; Borough President Levine; New York City Council members Crystal Hudson, Lynn Schulman, Shekar Krishnan, and Marjorie Velázquez.
“Each of our honorees was recognized for the incredible impact they’ve made in support of our community, including fighting hate and discrimination, preserving and expanding affordable housing, and championing major areas where Met Council works to support the most vulnerable members of our community, including the aged and those suffering from poverty, hunger, and domestic violence,” Greenfield added.
“Many of you come out and support Met Council, which is incredible,” Mayor Adams addressed attendees. “But really, what you should really do is go out and watch what Met Council is doing every day, bringing dignity to those suffering from poverty so that people who are going through difficult times won’t be treated in an undignified way. What Met Council is doing is extremely inspiring.”
“One year ago, Met Council celebrated 50 years of lifting people’s lives out of poverty, giving them hope and changing them forever, and I remain grateful for all the work you do,” Governor Hochul said in her remarks.
“Friends, hunger knows no race, no ethnicity, no religion, and what I love about Met Council is that they serve food to all, regardless of their race and religion, and its critically important that we understand the role that Met Council plays at a time where we are facing great difficulty here in this City and in the State of New York. I’ve witnessed Met Council’s work all over the City and in parts of upstate New York where they feed everyone who comes to their door, and as a result, I will always support and defend Met Council,” added New York State Attorney General Letitia James.
Founded in 1972, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council) has been fighting poverty and promoting the social welfare of New York’s struggling populations including the impoverished, immigrants, and the elderly. Its “Kosher Food Network” is the largest kosher food pantry program globally, reaching more than 325,000 individuals annually. Its social services division supports more than 34,000 New Yorkers through direct assistance and helping to register them for applicable government programs. These include programs supporting victims of domestic violence, the elderly, Holocaust survivors, and those experiencing other financially based crises. For more information, please visit www.metcouncil.org.
