The article below written by AHRC NYC staff members, Makai Fraizer and Andrew Pfadt-Trilling.
As part of our ongoing commitments to social justice and equality for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Martin Luther King Day has for the past five years been dedicated to AHRC NYC to giving back to the community by supporting efforts to end food insecurity and brighten the lives of the public. Staff members and people supported prepare for this day months in advance and this year was no different. This year, we worked to provide more than 500 pounds of food and winter attire.
Out on the Front Lines
Norfolk Day Services partnered with Bluestockings Bookstore to deliver meals, in concert with Citymeals on Wheels, to those who are unable to leave their homes. The Norfolk team was able to set up a table near the day center and started handing out bags of food! Sandwiches were also made to give away so those who were hungry could eat immediately, and fresh produce was delivered to the Essex Community Fridge. Donations were given to the local Bowery Mission and winter attire was handed out to those who needed it as well.
AHRC NYC Fisher Day Services partnered with Word Up Community Bookshop, donating fresh produce as well as nonperishables with some local volunteers in the area. Coats were also donated and there was a blood pressure station set up for people to have their vital signs checked. Additionally, in Manhattan, staff members at AHRC NYC Headquarters donated 150 pounds of food, provided to those in need.
Volunteers in Downtown Brooklyn delivered prepared food from a local café to neighbors experiencing food insecurity via our partnership with Rescuing Leftover Cuisine. Also in Brooklyn, staff members at Kings Highway Day Center coordinated a toy drive for local shelters and underserved public schools.
Thanks to Our Donators and Partners
There are some amazing ongoing initiatives that we continue doing throughout the year with different programs, and AHRC NYC will be continuing to grow with our partnerships and by giving back to the community in any way we can.
Thank you to those who have donated to our MLK Day of Service efforts, including Comcast/NBC, Driscoll Foods, Enterprise, Friedlander, Lifeguard, Konica Minolta, and Premier Supplies.
Thank you again to our local and national partners who we hope to continue to flourish relationships within the near future: The Arc of the United States, Bluestockings Bookstore, Bowery Mission, Citymeals on Wheels, Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, and Word Up Community Bookshop.
Most of all, thanks to the more than 50 volunteers who supported our efforts! We could not have done without you all on the front lines.
