The NYCHA Journal

The NYCHA Journal has informed and inspired residents since 1970, covering the news, contributions, and uplifting stories of the NYCHA community while providing the latest information on Authority initiatives.

REES Top Story 

Bronx Residents Receive Thanksgiving Meals from NYCHA Entrepreneurs 

LaToya

Thanks to funding from the Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice (MOERJ), NYCHA residents in the Bronx experiencing gas outages were still able to enjoy hot, delicious Thanksgiving meals with their families.  

MOERJ provided NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES) with approximately $403,000 to provide 15,000 meals to residents in the borough impacted by gas outages as part of its focus on alleviating disparities across the Bronx. The funding will allow REES to continue to provide meals to Bronx residents through June 2025 while also growing and supporting the businesses of NYCHA resident entrepreneurs.  

“We are thrilled to partner with NYCHA to help bring warmth and joy to Bronx families this holiday season,” said NYC Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice Sideya Sherman. “Through supporting NYCHA’s Food Business Pathways program, we’re helping to provide holiday meals to families while empowering resident entrepreneurs to realize their culinary dreams. Seeing these talented individuals grow their businesses while giving back exemplifies the power of community that makes our city great.” 

REES hired two food businesses owned by Food Business Pathways (FBP) vendors: Forest Houses resident Cornel Robinson of Cornel’s Catering and LaGuardia Houses resident Cristiana Franco of Sabor Restaurant & Bakery. FBP is a business accelerator program operated by REES that provides free food business training to help NYCHA residents and Section 8 voucher holders reach their dreams of starting or growing their own businesses. MOERJ’s funding will also allow REES to recruit more Bronx-based NYCHA residents to FBP. 

The funding from MOERJ expands the Growing NYCHA Food Businesses program which supports NYCHA-resident owned food businesses while also providing NYCHA residents with culturally appropriate emergency meals. In 2021, the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity provided funding to REES to pilot an expansion of the program in which NYCHA food entrepreneurs to provide approximately nine months of emergency food to NYCHA residents.  

“We are truly thankful for the Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice (MOERJ) for their generous support and collaboration,” said Michelle Raymie, Director of REES. “This funding not only ensured that Bronx residents facing gas service interruptions could gather with loved ones over a warm Thanksgiving meal but also empowers our resident-owned food businesses to continue serving their neighbors with fresh, hot meals through June 2025. This partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to uplifting NYCHA communities and fostering meaningful opportunities for economic growth.”  

On November 27, the FBP entrepreneurs delivered 335 meals to residents at 10 Bronx developments: Bronx River, Forest, Marble Hill, Melrose, Mitchel, Mott Haven, Pelham Parkway, Sotomayor, Throggs Neck, and Twin Parks. Residents were given the choice of a turkey, chicken, or vegetarian meal, with every household member eligible for a meal. 

Mott Haven Houses Resident Leader Deborah Aviles and the volunteers she organized to distribute 94 meals at Mott Haven.

NYCHA also provided residents of the impacted building with slow cookers and hot plates to assist with gas-free cooking during the outage and regularly communicates with residents about the progress of restoration. Gas service interruptions and repairs involve multiple partners and steps, including shutting off the gas service, making necessary repairs, and inspections in order to safely restore service.