Forest Hills store donates food
New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and the Stop & Shop Supermarket Company made an emergency donation to the Queens Jewish Community Council Kosher Food Pantry as supplies needed to provide Kosher for Passover food to families in need were nearly depleted.
“I want to commend Stop and Shop for making such a generous donation to Jewish New Yorkers in need so that they can celebrate the Passover holiday,” Speaker Quinn said. “So many New Yorkers are struggling during this difficult time, finding it hard to even put food on the table for their families. It is especially difficult for a family if they are unable to celebrate a religious holiday because they can’t afford to buy the appropriate food. “
An estimated 300,000 Jewish households — 20 percent of the city’s Jewish families – live in impoverished conditions.
“The realities of this economy have had a devastating impact upon many New Yorkers who suddenly find themselves unable to provide basic necessities for their families,” said Warren Hecht, President of the Queens Jewish Community Council.
Stop & Shop donated 1,000 pounds of Kosher for Passover food to the Queens Jewish Community Council Kosher Food Pantry including matzah, soup, matzah-ball mix matzoh-meal, grape juice, apple juice, gefilte fish, horseradish, farfel, potatoes, canned fruit, canned tuna, applesauce, coffee and Passover cookies.
“Stop& Shop is pleased that we are able to be of assistance to Queens Jewish Community Council Kosher Food Pantry,” said Carletta Cantres, store Manager of the Forest Hills Stop & Shop.
Congressmember Weiner gets high marks Congressmember Anthony Weiner, who represents parts of Queens, received a perfect score of 100 for his voting record to date on middle class issues in 2008’s 110th Congress.
The score is part of the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy (DMI)’s www.themiddleclass.org, which tracks members of Congress throughout the year as they vote on legislation of significance to the current and aspiring middle class.
Weiner has advocated for the middle class including efforts to make college education more affordable, expand health insurance for children, protect auto industry workers, improve our environment and ease the burden on middle class homeowners facing foreclosure.
“New York City’s middle class are feeling the squeeze from stagnant wages, increasing health insurance premiums and rising college tuition costs,” Weiner said. “I pledge to continue fighting for New York’s middle class families that are the backbone of our great city.”
Local blood drives Long Island Blood Services will host a number of blood drives in western Queens during the month of April. You can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org to verify the date and time of the blood drive.
• April 19 at Our Lady of the Angelus located at 98-095 63rd Drive, Rego Park from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• April 19 at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal located at 62-45 61st Street, Ridgewood from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• April 25 at The Reform Temple of Forest Hills located at 71-11 112th Street, Forest Hills from noon to 4 p.m.
Guest speaker at FH temple Joel J. Levy, the NY Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League, will be a guest speaker at The Reform Temple of Forest Hills on Sunday, April 19 at 10 a.m.
He will talk about the challenges facing the Jewish community at home and abroad. The Temple’s Life Long Learning Committee sponsors this event.
A $7 charge will include a light breakfast. For further information, call the Temple at 718-261-2900 or send an e-mail to mail@rtfh.org.
The Reform Temple of Forest Hills is located at 71-11 112th Street.
Gioia helps school raise money Councilmember Eric Gioia recently attended a fundraiser for Queens Vocational and Technical High School’s robotics team, the RoboTigers. The event was in support of their efforts to raise funds for their trip to Atlanta for the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition, an international robotics tournament from April 16-18. The RoboTigers won the New York City FIRST competition, giving them the opportunity to compete in Atlanta, and they are trying to raise money for travel.
“It’s great to see the community coming together to help send our students to Atlanta to represent Queens and New York,” Gioia said. “I’m proud that kids from New York City public schools are able to compete at the highest levels. Getting a chance to represent your school, borough and city at an international competition is the chance of a lifetime, and we wish the RoboTigers good luck in Atlanta.”
For more information on how to help, call 718-937-3010 or go to www.RoboTigers1796.com.
