Brooklyn Boro

BP Adams donates 1,000 turkeys, MetroCards to Brooklynites in need

November 22, 2016 By Scott Enman Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams stands outside Brooklyn Borough Hall as he prepares to give turkeys to Brooklynites in need. Eagle photos by Scott Enman
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Thanksgiving came early this year for hundreds of Brooklynites as Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams distributed more than 1,000 turkeys and vegetables to the less fortunate on Tuesday.

Adams, along with several organizations, community leaders and donors gathered outside Borough Hall at 11 a.m. on a cold windy morning to hand out the food and to offer some remarks.

“All Brooklynites should be able to share in Thanksgiving,” Adams told the Brooklyn Eagle. “This is the season to remember what One Brooklyn truly stands for. It’s not Thanks-receiving, it’s Thanksgiving.

“I thank all of our partners who are making it possible for us to help others, and we hope that all Brooklynites see it in their hearts to share with others who are struggling during this holiday season and beyond.”

The food was donated on Tuesday to 125 local food pantries and houses of worship that will be hosting Thanksgiving meals for the borough’s neediest residents.

In addition to handing out food, Adams also gave out 100 MetroCards that were donated by local clergy to nonprofit organizations. The MetroCards were contributed as part of the Seeds of Kindness campaign.

The MetroCards will be given to Brooklyn residents in need of transit assistance that may need to use public transportation to get to job interviews, social services center and places hosting Thanksgiving events.

“With these MetroCards, people don’t need to jump the turnstile,” said Adams. “They don’t need to beg. They can go in a dignified manner.”

Director of Faith-Based and Clergy Initiatives Gilford Monrose told the Eagle that some of the MetroCards will be given to mothers in need who have lost their children to gun violence.

Each MetroCard will have two rides on them.

“I always during this time of the year remind individuals that this is a time when you have one of the highest levels of suicide because many people don’t have families, many people are depressed and many people feel as though they don’t matter,” said Adams. “This is our way of saying ‘yes you do matter’ and to show our love.”

Adams also praised the many volunteers who dedicate their Thanksgiving to helping others.

“Soup kitchen lines are getting longer but the patience of the volunteers and staffers are not getting shorter,” said Adams. “They have a long way of having the patience and understanding that people are in need, and although they want dinner, they also want dignity.

“They want to be treated with respect. They want to be treated with love, care and nurturing and these soup kitchens have found creative ways of instilling dignity in people. Being short on resources should not be a reason for you to be short on respect.”

Adams will also be hosting the 29th Annual Senior Citizens Thanksgiving Dinner at Boys and Girls High School in Bedford-Stuyvesant on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. In addition to a traditional Thanksgiving feast, there will be music and raffles.

For more information on the event, call the Borough President’s Office at 718-802-3700.

 

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