Inside St. Mary’s church during the HPCA’s Food Drive Sorting Party (Photo: Queens Post)
Nov. 30, 2017 By Nathaly Pesantez
More than 6,000 pounds of food and critical supplies have been donated as part of a giving drive started by the Hunters Point Civic Association, a record number for the local group.
The drive, in its fourth year, has been amassing food and toiletries for the past three weeks from donors at 50 participating buildings in Queens and Manhattan, and will be delivering the goods to several local pantries in Long Island City, Woodside, and Sunnyside this weekend.
Today, about 100 volunteers, including girl scout troops and the Gantry Parent Association, joined HPCA organizers at St. Mary’s Church in Hunters Point to pack the donations that will be distributed to food pantries at Hour Children and St. Raphael’s Church in Long Island City, the Center of Hope in Queensbridge, and St. Teresa in Woodside on Saturday.
Brent O’Leary, president of the Hunters Point Civic Association (Photo: Queens Post)
“This is a record year because of our amazing community, which always comes together for those in need,” said Brent O’Leary, president of the HPCA. O’Leary started the food drive after reading about the food pantry crisis plaguing the city due to the rising number of homeless people.
Last year saw 5,200 pounds of donated goods in an effort that began with just over 1000 pounds when it first started in 2013.
Although Saturday will signal the end of this year’s drive, volunteers can sign up to help load the boxes into the 26-foot truck used for deliveries on that day from St. Mary’s Church at 10-08 49th Ave. The loading will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and will be followed by drop offs from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. More information can be found on the HPCA’s food drive page.
