Goya Foods to Announce Significant Recommitment
of a 300,000 Pound Food Donation to Support
Catholic Charities’ Food Pantries, Helping New Yorkers in Need
His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan and President of Goya Foods Bob Unanue will join Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York at their annual Holy Thursday Food Distribution, providing food pantry meals at the Cristo Rey New York High School located at 112 E. 106th Street, NY, NY 10029 on March 29, 2018 starting at 11:00 am. Prior to the event, Cardinal Dolan will take a private tour of the St. Cecilia’s parish, followed by a major donation on behalf of Goya Foods distributed to the clients of Catholic Charities’ food pantries.
The event reaffirms Catholic Charities’ partnerships with programs to provide more than 6.5 million meals to hungry New Yorkers each year. Community and parish-based food programs and pantries offer families food to bring home, while many locations also provide hot meals on site. Last year, Catholic Charities received 765,000 pounds of food, much of which was re-distributed to their partner programs.
Goya Foods has been a generous supporter of the Catholic Charities’ food pantries since 2013, donating over 1.2 million pounds of food to Catholic Charities of New York since the start of their support. At the event, President of Goya Foods Bob Unanue will recommit their support by announcing the donation of 300,000 pounds of food.
Over the past 15 years, Catholic Charities Community Services (CCCS) has provided essential social services in the community of St. Cecilia’s parish. Their primary focus is to provide holistic Case Management services, which includes assistance with crisis intervention, rental and utility arrears. They work alongside Comunidad Juan Diego, a Mexican women’s group to provide supportive services and community engagement activities for the women and their families.
St. Cecilia’s weekly food pantry is open on Wednesdays from 9 am –11am and serves approximately 75 families every week. In April 2018, their pantry will expand to a full client choice model, which will allow them to serve more families healthier food choices. To reach the seniors and disabled recipients, CCCS also have a home-bound food pantry delivery service that currently has 100 people on their roster. This unique service is conducted by trustworthy volunteers that ensure this vulnerable population is supported and not forgotten.
Back in 2016, Catholic Charities of New York opened the Bronx Food Distribution Center – 1,050-square foot site – to increase access to fresh produce and support services to a network of 26 community-based interfaith pantries and soup kitchens to assist the food insecure and hungry of the Bronx and Northern Manhattan.