An estimated 767 individuals, about 480 households, benefited from the free food packages given at the Forest Hills Jewish Center on August 30 for the upcoming Jewish holidays.
Queens Jewish Community Council received 14,700 pounds of food from Met Council on Jewish Poverty. Met Council had 45 distribution sites in Queens, including the Young Israel of Forest Hills Senior League on August 26. The needs are increasing, said Joshua Steinreich, who does public relations for Met Council.
According to a UJA study in 2023, 15% of Jewish households, about 25,000 people, in Queens live in poor or near-poor conditions. In Central and Western Queens, 16% of households are classified as poor or near-poor.
Twenty-nine percent of Jewish households in Queens reported they are “just managing” or “can’t make ends meet,” and 7% of Jewish households in Queens report being food-insecure and running out of food at least sometimes over the course of a year.
QJCC and Met Council on Jewish Poverty gave out packages with more than 30 food items, including apples, honey, carrots, grape juice, fresh chickens, canned goods (fruit, vegetables, and tuna), rice, pasta, matzah ball and soup mix, eggs, fresh produce, and potatoes. “Plenty of protein,” said Barry Grodenchik, President of Queens Jewish Community Council (QJCC).
Sarah Markowitz supervised approximately 35 volunteers of all ages on August 30 and about 20 volunteers on August 26, doing bulk pickup, organizing, and packing up the food bags.
Forest Hills resident Eliezer Epstein was one of those volunteers on August 30. As co-owner and co-manager of Pizza Professor in Kew Gardens Hills, Epstein has seen food insecurity. He takes to heart the ethos Rabbi Yaniv Meirov from Chazaq told him: “Try to do more, to help people.” He enjoys “giving back to the community, being part of the community, and getting to meet people.”
Expensive food prices were the main reason Rego Park resident Albert Yusupov waited in line. “Baruch Hashem, we have help from this Jewish organization.” He now has the “opportunity” to eat chicken, fish, and “nice food” for the holidays.
Diana Rachnaev, the new Executive Director of the Queens Jewish Community Council, was helping out with the food packages, as was her brother, Daniel Rachnaev. Both created and were Co-CEOs of Yesodot, a mental health advocacy and community support organization. Daniel is still the Co-CEO.
Diana believes part of QJCC’s mission is to link people to mental health and community resources and to “make sure that people who need the services know exactly how to navigate them.”
Diana wants to strengthen existing community relationships. “I want to make sure that we work cohesively with our neighbors, and that means all of our neighbors. It’s super important to show up for them, so that we can make sure they show up for us. That’s the way this works.”
She also wants QJCC to make the move from their office in Ezra Academy to their building at 69-69 Main Street in Kew Gardens Hills and enlarge their food pantry.
QJCC also has Medicaid and Food Stamps Specialists, assists with enrolling people in health insurance, and delivers kosher meals made by Meal Mart to those on a low income, among other services.
Queens Jewish Community Council is located at 119-45 Union Turnpike in Forest Hills and can be contacted at (718) 544-9033.
Met Council offers emergency, one-time grants to alleviate a financial crisis due to an unexpected event like loss of employment, fire, loss of a family member, etc.
Rent, utilities, medical needs, and other unique one-time expenses can be paid to maintain a household’s stability and self-sufficiency. For rent, clients must show future ability to pay.
Holocaust survivors can receive groceries delivered to them from their food pantry, get limited financial assistance for rent and utility arrears and uncovered medical and dental expenses. Met Council also offers supportive counseling and assistance with entitlements and benefits.
Met Council has affordable, safe, and secure housing, particularly for low-income older adults.
They offer career counseling, job-search assistance, résumé and interview preparation, and some job training programs.
For more information about what Met Council offers, go to metcouncil.org or call (212) 453-9500.
By David Schneier
