Every night for the last six years one man could be found on Roosevelt Avenue and 73rd Street in Jackson Heights handing out food to hungry day laborers under the No. 7 train.
That man is Jorge Muñoz.
Over the last three years his community service has earned him press attention and national and local recognition. His most recent recognition comes from the president himself.
Muñoz, known as the “Angel of Queens,” received the 2010 Presidential Citizens Medal on Wednesday, August 4 from President Barack Obama for his work feeding day laborers in Jackson Heights.
“I was very proud,” said Muñoz. “Imagine, out of 6,000 people they picked 13 and only three were Hispanic.”
The 46-year-old school bus driver said he started handing out food in the streets of Jackson Heights back in May 2004, which now has become a non-for-profit organization, An Angel in Queens, after he saw a restaurant throwing away uneaten food.
“I asked for it and they gave it to me,” said Muñoz.
Muñoz was born in Palmira, a small city in Colombia, and came to the United States with his sister Luz to be with his mother. The family stayed briefly in Brooklyn and then moved to Queens, finally settling in Woodhaven, where they still live today.
In the beginning Muñoz’s mother would cook and prepare food in their small kitchen and Muñoz and Luz would distribute the food.
“It was just us three,” he said.
Since his nomination for the CNN Hero of the Year and an article was written about him in The New York Times, he began receiving donations from restaurants in Queens.
“Two Colombian restaurants, an Ecuadorian restaurant and a bakery help me,” Muñoz said. “They give what they can.”
Not only is he receiving more donations, but more workers go to him for food. Muñoz said he started by feeding a few more than 100 people, but that number has nearly doubled.
Muñoz along with his mother, sister, an uncle and three close friends, arrived at the White House on Tuesday, August 3 to await the awards ceremony.
“It’s big,” said Muñoz. “You feel like you’re in a dream.”
