NYCHA Celebrates Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a moment to come together, give thanks, and support our neighbors. This year, NYCHA, resident associations, local businesses, community organizations, and elected officials came together to ensure NYCHA families across the city had what they needed to enjoy a warm holiday – from gift cards and groceries to turkeys and prepared meals.
“NYCHA’s residents are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re happy to help facilitate meals for families in need during the holidays,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “As we reflect on what we’re grateful for this time of year, I would be remiss not to mention how appreciative we are of our partners in these holiday meal distribution efforts, whose contributions will help permit residents to focus on spending quality time with their loved ones this Thanksgiving.”
Gift Cards to Residents Experiencing Gas Outages
NYCHA provided gift cards to households affected by gas outages, helping residents purchase holiday meals for their families. Each impacted household received a gift card valued at $15 per household member on the lease. A total of 3,200 gift cards were provided to residents at 40 developments, totaling over $106,900 and benefitting more than 7,100 residents.
Gift cards were distributed between November 17 and November 24. NYCHA also provided impacted residents with slow cookers and hot plates to assist with gas-free cooking throughout each outage.
NYCHA Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability Events
NYCHA Food Business Pathways Graduates
Thanks to funding from the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice (MOERJ), NYCHA resident-owned food businesses (graduates of NYCHA’s Food Business Pathways program) provided 1,350 Thanksgiving meals to residents in the Bronx experiencing gas outages and who were affected by the government shutdown.
“We are pleased to partner with NYCHA and resident-owned food businesses to provide holiday meals to those in need,” said NYC Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice Sideya Sherman. “This season of giving reminds us of how powerful it is when public, private, and community partners come together to look out for one another and help nourish and support communities from within.”
- November 22: NYCHA resident Cornel Robinson (Cornel’s Catering) delivered 250 meals to residents at 1471 Watson Avenue to support seniors and residents with mobility issues.
- November 24: Four resident-owned businesses (Brandi Covington of Cooking with Corey, Elizabeth Moolchan of Andy’s Daughter Catering, Cristiana Franco of Sabor Restaurant & Bakery, and Cornel’s Catering) delivered 800 meals to McKinley Houses residents.
- November 26: Cornel’s Catering delivered 300 meals to Butler Houses residents.
Jobs-Plus Coney Island
On November 22, Jobs-Plus Coney Island provided 200 free turkeys to Jobs-Plus members from Coney Island Houses, Surfside Gardens, and Coney Island (Sites 4 and 5). Also in attendance at the event were Coney Island Houses Resident Association President Lauretta Brumfield, Assembly Member Alex Brook-Krasny, and NYCHA REES staff.
Public Housing Community Fund
The Public Housing Community Fund (PHCF) distributed over 2,500 turkeys and 25,000 pounds of food, including fresh produce and pantry staples, to NYCHA families between November 19 and 25. Hosting food giveaways at NYCHA communities across all five boroughs, the annual effort served an estimated 15,000 New Yorkers in the lead-up to Thanksgiving. PHCF partnered with NYCHA, private donors, Whole Foods, Baldor, London Meats, GrowNYC, Agri Exotic Trading, and Great Performances on the food donations.
“The holiday season is a time for community, family, and celebration, and we are excited to play a part in making sure families across NYCHA have a truly special and abundant Thanksgiving,” said Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of the Public Housing Community Fund. “We are grateful for our partners and donors for their generosity and look forward to working our way across the city with turkeys, fresh produce, and all the fixings needed to make their Thanksgiving tables bountiful and memorable.”
The PHCF supported families across all five boroughs: in the Bronx at Bronx River Houses, Clay Avenue, Jackson Houses, Morris Houses, Morrisania Air Rights, Mott Haven Houses, Patterson Houses, and St. Mary’s Houses; in Brooklyn at Brownsville Houses, Breukelen Houses, Coney Island Houses, Coney Island Houses I (Sites 4 & 5), International Towers, Kingsborough Houses, Parkside Houses, Seth Low Houses, and Surfside Gardens; in Queens at Carlton Manor Houses, College Point Houses, Redfern Houses, and South Jamaica Houses; in Manhattan at Langston Hughes Houses, Lexington houses, Lincoln Houses, and Manhattanville Rehabs, and in Staten Island at Mariners Harbor Houses, and Stapleton Houses.
Events Hosted by Elected Officials
Elected officials supported NYCHA residents with turkey giveaways, meal distributions, and community events.
Deputy City Council Speaker Diana Ayala partnered with NYCHA, New York Community Pantry, Phipps Houses, the Hispanic Federation, Catholic Charities, and Positive Workforce to distribute 2,670 turkeys and 500 perniles to NYCHA residents in developments in the 8th City Council District.
Several food distribution events were held for residents of Mitchel Houses in the Bronx, with support from the Mitchel Houses Resident Association, U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Catholic Charities, Rethink Food, Community Board 1, and Eastside House, including a Thanksgiving dinner, hot food pantry, and several bagged lunch distributions.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards hosted turkey giveaway events on November 13 for Pomonok Houses residents and November 17 for Latimer Houses residents.
These efforts were part of a wide range of holiday events held across NYCHA communities this Thanksgiving. Among them, PACT partners supported developments across the city with 29 holiday events and distributions, and resident associations organized turkey giveaways, grocery distributions, and community events that brought neighbors together. Together, these activities showed a shared commitment to supporting NYCHA families and ensuring that residents had access to the food and support needed to celebrate a warm and meaningful Thanksgiving.