The Queens Jewish Community Council handed out hundreds of bags of food to the hungry last weekend in advance of Rosh Hashanah next week.
Cynthia Zalisky, executive director of the council, said 14 volunteers gave as many as 500 bags of food to Queens residents in need Sunday at Forest Hills’ Ezra Academy on Union Turnpike. She expected the council to give out just as many Monday.
“We’ll give them away until we run out,” she said. “There is more of a need due to the economic downturn. People are desperate before the holiday. So we’ll provide them with something extra.”
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, will begin at sunset Sept. 8 and end at nightfall Sept. 10.
Bags of food included apple sauce, grape juice, honey, carrots, vegetables, oatmeal, rice, tuna and salmon.
People collecting food at the center for their families hailed from Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Rego Park and Flushing, Zalinsky said.
“We want to make sure people have a happy holiday,” she said.
The council regularly operates the food pantry during weekdays.
— Nathan Duke
