Thankful for Community

NYCHA is thankful to its employees, residents, elected officials, and partner organizations for working together to ensure that public housing residents across the city, including those affected by gas outages, had Thanksgiving meals.

On the evening of November 27, for instance, NYCHA staff delivered 1,300 meals to residents at 25 developments in all five boroughs. At the Gompers Houses on the Lower East Side, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Assemblymembers Harvey Epstein and Yuh-Line Niou, and Councilmember Carlina Rivera helped pack meals for distribution. The meals were prepared by nine NYCHA residents who are graduates of NYCHA’s Food Business Pathways program.

Additional events were held resident associations, elected officials, and community organizations, including turkey giveaways, sit-down and take-home dinners, and Thanksgiving food box giveaways.

The following elected officials sponsored events for their NYCHA constituents: State Senators Jamaal T. Bailey, Jessica Ramos, and Luis Sepulveda; Assemblymembers Michael Cusick, Michael Blake, and Nathalia Fernandez; and Councilmembers Andrew Cohen, Javier Salamanca, Rafael Salamanca Jr., and Stephen Levin.

Organizations sponsoring events included BronxWorks, the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island, the Harlem All Stars Youth Foundation, Grand Street Settlement, and North Central Bronx Hospital. Former New York Jets player Willie Colon held his annual turkey giveaway for Melrose Houses residents, giving back to the development and community that raised him.

These efforts illustrate the spirit of community and giving that will continue through the winter holiday season.