Holiday Wishes Come True As Seniors And Families Receive Holiday Gifts In Harlem

On Thursday, December 20, 2018, nearly 200 seniors and families with children struggling with food insecurity had their holiday wishes come true during a special gift giveaway at Food Bank’s Community Kitchen and Food Pantry, 252 West 116th Street in Harlem, NY.

Seniors and families wrote letters to Santa and Food Bank’s Orange Elves were on hand to volunteer wrapping presents at the Orange Elf Workshop and deliver presents.

The holidays are a time of celebration and gift giving for many, but for the 1.5 million New Yorkers—including 204,000 seniors and 339,000 children—Holidays present a special burden for 1 in 5 New Yorkers who struggle with food insecurity year-round, the holidays can be a time of high anxiety. Not only was there worry about putting food on the table but our families also are worried about providing gifts and needed winter items. For these families, the bulk of their resources go toward the essentials, like food and rent – leaving little room to share gifts with their children and loved ones the way we enjoy doing this time of year.

This is also the time of year when the weather turns cold and the cost of heating goes up. People who were teetering on the edge may suddenly find themselves in need of food pantries and soup kitchens.

Photo credit: 1-5) Holiday 2018 from Claire Holmes (Risa Heller Comms)