Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance Roosevelt Island Thanksgiving Food Drive Is Asking For Your Help - Make A Difference In A Neighbor's Life And Drop Your Grocery Items At 507 Main Street

According to Roosevelt Island's Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (MST&DA): 

MSTDA is proud to announce its first Thanksgiving Food Drive! 

Starting this week and throughout the whole month of November, help us make a difference in someone’s life.

While you are out grocery shopping, consider picking up some extra items from the list below. 

Our designated drop-off center is located at 507 Main Street (Music & Play Station) during the times of 4-6pm Tues, Thur & 10:30am-12pm Tues, Thur & Sat.

Or bring it when your child attends class! If class is in session, please kindly leave your items outside the door and do not enter the space during classes.

   

 Please donate items by November 22nd. Here is a list of needed items:

Canned goods with pop-top lids are better than canned goods that require a can opener. Avoid foods packaged in glass. Do not donate foods that are past the expiration date.)  

Applesauce 

Brown Rice 

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Roosevelt Island Free Weekly Food Pantry Friday August 14 From RIDA At Senior Center - Fresh Produce, Lots Of Milk And Non Perishable Items, Everyone Who Needs Is Welcome, Try The Tasty Chicken Casserole Recipe From Pantry Items

Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Wendy Hersh reports;

The Roosevelt Island Disabled Association will be having it's weekly Friday food pantry tomorrow August 14 from 4 - 6:30 pm at Roosevelt Island Senior Center (546 Main Street).

Lots of Fresh Produce,

Milk

and non-perishables.

If you are in need of food, please feel free to come on Friday. Everyone who needs is welcome. You MUST wear a mask, bring ID and your own bag or cart. Line starts at 546 entrance way

Ms Hersh adds:

Learn more about RIDA's food delivery to residents during the Coronavirus Pandemic lockdown.

Roosevelt Island Free Food Pantry Friday July 31 From RIDA At Senior Center 4 To 6:30 PM - Fresh Produce, Lots Of Milk And Non Perishable Items, Everyone Who Needs Is Welcome, Over 140 Families Served By RI Food Pantry Last Friday

Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Wendy Hersh reports;

The Roosevelt Island Disabled Association will be having a food pantry tomorrow Friday July 31 from 4 - 6:30 pm at Roosevelt Island Senior Center (546 Main Street).

Lots of Fresh Produce,

Milk

and non-perishables.

If you are in need of food, please feel free to come on Friday. Everyone who needs is welcome. You MUST wear a mask and bring your own bag or cart.

Ms Hersh adds:

Last Friday's food pantry gave food to over 140 people/families. We were so pleased. So we will continue the pantry every Friday to help our community. Although the line was long,

PSD assisted us with social distancing inside and out to help keep everyone safe. Thanks to all our wonderful volunteers who help make this happen.

Learn more about RIDA's food delivery to residents during the Coronavirus Pandemic lockdown.

Roosevelt Island Free Food Pantry July 17 From RIDA At Senior Center 4 To 7 PM - Fresh Produce, Lots Of Milk And Non Perishable Items, Everyone Who Needs Is Welcome

Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Wendy Hersh reports;

The Roosevelt Island Disabled Association will be having a food pantry tomorrow Friday July 17th from 4pm to 7pm at Roosevelt Island Senior Center.

Lots of Fresh Produce,

Milk

and non-perishables.

If you are in need of food, please feel free to come on Friday. Everyone who needs is welcome. You MUST wear a mask and bring your own bag or cart. Please enter through garden off of 540 Main Street alleyway.

Learn more about RIDA's food delivery to residents during the Coronavirus Pandemic lockdown.

Roosevelt Island Non Perishable Extra Food Giveaway From RIDA And Carter Burden RI Senior Center Friday July 10 - All Those In Need Of Food Are Welcome, Fruit, Vegetables, Soup, Cereal, Bread, Canned Goods & More

Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Wendy Hersh reports;

RIDA will open up the food pantry again on Friday July 10th from 4pm to 6pm at RI Senior Center (546 Main Street).

Lots of fresh produce, milk and non-perishables.

You MUST wear a MASK and GLOVES. Please bring your own bags or shopping cart. Entrance is through the garden off of the 540 Main St alley way. All those in need of food is welcome.

UPDATE 7/10 - Ms Hersh adds:

If it is raining, the food pantry line will start at Front Lobby of 546 Main Street.

Roosevelt Island Non Perishable Extra Food Giveaway From RIDA And Carter Burden RI Senior Center Tuesday June 30 At Senior Center - Soup, Cereal, Bread, Canned Goods & More

Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Wendy Hersh reports;

In need of food?? The Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) in collaboration with Carter Burden Network (CBN) Roosevelt Island Senior Center will be distributing non perishable food items again

Image From RIDA Facebook Page

on Tuesday, June 30 at the RI Senior Center (546 Main Street) garden entrance from 9:30AM to 11:30AM for those in need. For access, remember to wear your face mask and gloves, bring your own bag or cart. Please make sure to use the garden entrance.

Learn more about RIDA's food delivery to residents during the Coronavirus Pandemic lockdown.

Roosevelt Island Non Perishable Extra Food Giveaway From RIDA Wednesday June 17 At Senior Center -Soup, Cereal, Bread & Canned Goods

Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Wendy Hope reports:

Are you in need of any non-perishable food items?

Image From RIDA Facebook Page

The Roosevelt Island Disabled Association has extra food that we can give to you. Come to the senior center (546 Main Street) GARDEN ENTRANCE ONLY...Wednesday, June 17th from 9:30AM to 11:00AM. You must wear mask and gloves. Please bring your own bag or cart!

Learn more about RIDA's food delivery to residents during the Coronavirus Pandemic lockdown.

Roosevelt Island Heroes In Action - RIDA, NYCEM CERT & Evangel Food Pantry Volunteers Deliver Free Meals To Roosevelt Island Elderly And Homebound During Coronavirus Pandemic - We Want To Help Our Neighbors, That's What Roosevelt island Is All About Says RIDA President Wendy Hersh

Volunteers, led by Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Wendy Hersh, together with the Long Island City based Evangel Church Food Pantry and the NYC Emergency Management Department (NYCEM) Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members are delivering free meals to Roosevelt Island elderly and homebound residents during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Image Of RIDA, Evangel and NYC CERT Members Prior To Delivering Food Saturday May 2

Ms Hersh reports providing meals to between 170 and 200 people daily including:

320 meals a day Monday thru Friday (breakfasts and lunches). 550 bags of groceries each week (dairy, canned food, pasta, cereal, other nonperishables, fresh veggies and fruit, juice and sometimes meat). as well as 185 small grocery boxes on Saturdays.

200 catered dinner meals last Saturday and Sunday.

Last Saturday before beginning their food distribution, I spoke with

• RIDA's Wendy Hersh,
• Carolyn Marko, Executive Director of Evangel Church,
• Frank Farance, Roosevelt Island Resident and CERT Incident Commander
• Paul Curiale, CERT Operations Chief and
• Terese Flores, CERT Operations Deputy Chief

about what they are doing. Here's what they said.



Ms Hersh expressed great thanks to Carolyn Marko of the Evangel Church Food Pantry, noting::

People think Roosevelt Island is Timbuktu. We could not get any food. I called Carolyn up Twelve o'clock one day and by 4 o'clock she delivered five hundred fifty bags to us....

... We just want to help our neighbors. That's what Roosevelt Island is all about...

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Roosevelt Island Resident And NYC Emergency Management Dep't CERT Volunteer Frank Farance Reports On Food Bagging Mission Which Became Rescue Mission Of Almost Quarter Million Pounds Of Food During Coronavirus Pandemic

Roosevelt Island resident Frank Farance is a long time volunteer with the NYC Emergency Management Department (NYCEM) Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). According to NYCEM

NYC CERT members are dedicated volunteers who undergo a training program that provides basic response skills needed for fire safety, light search and rescue, community disaster support, disaster medical operations, and traffic control.

The volunteer commitment is for at least one year of service following graduation....

Mr Farance shown in photo below on right with other CERT members shares these photos and reports on a recent CERT Food Bagging mission which turned into a Food Saving mission during the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic. According to Mr Farance:

This Originally Started as a "Food Bagging" Operation

There are almost a dozen CDP (Commodity Distribution Point) operations around the City, which involve trucks/pallets of food (of various menu/packaging types) and an on-site partnership of the City's Parks Department, National Guard,

other City Agencies, and CERTs. This operation is different. The deployment request called it a Food Bagging operation, including separating food into compost, tossing stale food, and salvaging what we could from the boxes.

The operation was at Pier 36 (downtown on South Street) at Basketball City, which abuts the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) facility.

After scavenging for items in the 27,400 boxes (or as much as we could get through that day), the 274 pallets

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Roosevelt Island Volunteers Led By RIDA President Wendy Hersh Deliver Groceries And Meals Daily To Our Seniors And Homebound During Coronavirus Pandemic

Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Wendy Hersh shares these photos and reports:

So it's been quite a few weeks...working remotely from home non stop. 8hrs a day...

and at the same time making sure those in need and those unable to come out in my community receive their breakfast and lunch every day as well as making sure our weekly grocery donations are distributed along with that.

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Here's How You Can Help Your Roosevelt Island Neighbors During Coronavirus Covid 19 Pandemic - Deliver Food To Your Neigbors And Join The Friends Of Coler To Help Patients And Staff

Many Roosevelt Island residents have asked what they can do to help our neighbors during the Coronavirus Covid 19 Pandemic. Just one example:

I am a newer local RI resident and wondering if there is anything I can do to help our community in these strange and crazy times!

I would not even know where to begin myself, so I was curious do you know of any groups organizing ways to help the local people or businesses in need? If so could you help connect me?...

Of course what we all can do is Stay At Home,Wash Your Hands and Keep Your Social Distance when you have to go out but there are tasks that you may be able to do for your neighbors that they can't do for themselves.

Roosevelt Island Disabled Association  (RIDA) President Wendy Hope reports:

The Roosevelt Island Disabled Association along with Mosaic Church will be delivering the grab n go breakfast and lunches this coming week provided by the Board of Education.

We are in need of some volunteers to deliver to those in need in the various buildings. If you are able to deliver these small bags to your neighbors within your building please let me know... we will be working from the senior center and will ask you to pick up for your building at 9:30am. We are all in this together and we can get through this together.

And:

Read more »

Roosevelt Island Residents Donate And Deliver Necessities To People Living In Rockaways Devastated By Hurricane Sandy - RI Volunteers Helped And Made A Difference In Some LIves

Image of Roosevelt Islanders Collecting Donations For Rockaways From Karine Wong

A call was put out last Saturday by Roosevelt Island residents Tim & Karine Wong to donate items for distribution to people living in the Rockaways devastated by Hurricane Sandy. The Wong's update us on what happened:

If you ever had any doubt that you could make a difference in the world, just look at the pictures... (many more are coming in the next few days)

Image of Roosevelt Islanders Collecting Donations For Rockaways From Olya Turcihin

Image of Roosevelt Islanders Collecting Donations For Rockaways from Karine Wong

Watching the late local news Friday night and decided to send out an email to see if we could get some people to join the following morning, collect what we could and go and find some people in need…

We went Saturday with a single car of water, food and clothes into a neighborhood in the Rockaways area – part of Queens – that was really hard hit. Everyone flooded. Everyone without power. Everyone wondering why it will take weeks for any changes to occur. A lot of people are out of their homes, without power, trying to figure out what move to make next, all sorts of different situations… Some of these people have some sort of “means",  network, or back up plan. The place that we went to Saturday is different because it is clear that those living in this area do not have the means, network or any back up at all. These are people who cannot go to a local restaurant to eat when the power is out – even if there was one available.

Not a lot of cars in this area – even if there were – there is no fuel. The power is out for a several mile stretch. No stores. No gas stations. No businesses of any kind in operation. The closest area with power is JFK airport. It is several miles to walk to get to the other side of the airport before you even begin to see any areas where there is the hope of finding an open store.

So we pull up to the publicized location of a NYC food distribution center. We walk up to the people at the head of the line (there were about 50 people there at the time) and we asked if this was the spot for food distribution.

They said yes, and that if we needed something we better get in line now cause the distribution center staff arrive around noon and get set up for distributions starting at 1pm. The people there told us that in an hour or so the line would be 4 or 5 blocks long. It was 930am.

Image of Rockaway Food Distribution From Olya Turcihin

We got in our car, pulled up to the front of the line, opened the back and said, can you help us unload what we have to share… everyone joined in, helped out and shared what was there… a couple of teenagers passed on food and asked if we had any blankets… They all said thanks and we drove home.

We went back on Sunday.

Saturday, lots and lots of emails came in. People from all over met on Roosevelt Island and put together 4 very full vans of water, food, and necessities plus an additional 16 passenger van + trailer just full of clothes. We spent about 4 hours helping distribute what we had collected.

The result of word of mouth, emails, Facebook, Twitter, blogging - all connected to the Roosevelt Island community. The people from many Island businesses, plus the 30+ people who came out at 8am to help and the other 30 or so families that sent items - all contributed to make this possible. Not one monumental effort by one person, no Bill Gates or Warren Buffet here... Instead, incremental movement by a community.

Images By Olya Turcihin

The point is that even a small gesture or the smallest effort can make a difference… Nothing is too small. Any constructive activity can make a difference. Not making any attempt defines failure. It makes more sense to make an effort and define humanity.

It started with one note on Friday night. So, spread the word, everyone can find a way to help out and there are lots of different avenues to lend a hand…just find one…

There were a lot of smiles, a lot of thank you’s, and even a couple of people dispensing hugs of thanks to the many volunteers who ended up on this Rockaway corner.

None of this would be possible without the effort and interest of so many people. People who came with items to give away, people who found items in their homes that they could share, people who asked what made the most sense and then went out and got it, the people who drove from Queens with stuff that they wanted to contribute, the people who came on the F train from Manhattan to give what they had…the community around Roosevelt Island

Only about 15 miles from Roosevelt Island it seems like a whole world away.

Images From Karine Wong

Yet, the common ground was that of need, caring and ability to help. Everyone should know that the people helped today genuinely appreciate the fact that someone thought to care enough to come out there…as it is certainly a place on the lower levels of the priority list.

Tim & Karine WONG

Lynn Marfrey shares some scenes from the wreckage in the Rockaways

Images From Lynn Marfrey

and reports:

Thanks to everyone for quickly stepping in and making a difference! In case you are not able to see where the donations are going I have attached a pdf with a glimpse of what the Rockaways look like.

I wish I took more pictures but I think I was too stunned to even click the shutter!

I’m sure Roosevelt Island has already made a difference and our efforts should still continue!

Update On Low Cost Meals For Roosevelt Island Residents From Angel Food Ministries & RIDA - Volunteers Are Needed To Help Distribute The Food

You Tube Video of Angel Food Ministries News Report From Fox 2 News St. Louis

An update regarding the Angel Food Ministries and Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) program to provide low-cost meals to the residents of Roosevelt Island. From an earlier post:

Gristedes and Fresh Direct may have some low cost competition in the Roosevelt Island grocery food business from a couple of Monroe Georgia Pastors and The Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA). RIDA is the local sponsor of a new Roosevelt Island monthly food delivery service from an organization called Angel Food Ministries that will provide low cost meals to all residents, regardless of income, who sign up for their services. According to their web site:

Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States. The program began in 1994 with 34 families in Monroe, Georgia (between Atlanta and Athens), and has grown to serve hundreds of thousands of families every month across 35 states...

Jim Bates of RIDA sends the following message seeking volunteers to help with the food distribution, information on how you can order for February and view the menu.

Thanks for asking about volunteers, Yes we can use some and even better would be for someone to go with me to pick the orders in Brooklyn this Saturday. I would need 1 or 2 to come with me and pick up the food and about 3-4 more people in the afternoon at 2:30 PM to distribute the food to the families that purchased the food.

42 people ordered 64 different items on the menu and saved more then $1800.00. I will add more days in which Islanders can order food, including Saturdays and a few evenings. We will be helping many more families save on their monthly food costs as soon as the word gets out on how much food is given and especially the quality at such a low price.

February menu is now online and we will start taking Orders this Saturday Jan 24th and end Friday Feb 13th. Delivery of food will be on Sat. February 28th. The new menu is now online at angelfoodministries.com.

It is important to remember that service is available to all regardless of income. Roosevelt Island ordering information is available here. Information on Angel Food Ministries in the New York and New Jersey area is here.