By Gina Martinez
Flushing restaurateurs are flush with the spirit of giving this holiday season.
Danny’s Steak House and Oyster Bar is hosting its second “Community Meals for Those in Need on Christmas Eve” event at Flushing Town Hall Dec. 24. Restaurateurs Danny Lye and partner Ivy Zheng will be donating 350 meals from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
In addition to the 350 meals from Lye, the owner of Flushing restaurant Yu Sushi Bar, Jimmy Wong, will be donating 150 rolls of sushi along with 300 bottles of water. Some 35 volunteers have signed up to help with the event and will distribute the 500 meals to people in need.
A recent survey released by Hunger Free America revealed that in New York City approximately 1.4 million people lived in households that are food insecure, meaning that they are not certain where their next meal will come from.
“Winter is coming and many holidays are coming,” said Ellen Kodadek, executive director ofr Flushing Town Hall. “Unfortunately, some people in our community, especially in Flushing, don’t have access to the warmth of holiday spirit, the warmth of family, warmth of people to take care of them. At Flushing Town Hall we’re happy to once again be hosting this amazing community dinner and we particularly want to thank the sponsors. Over 300 people came last year and were fed, and left with not only warm food for their stomachs but also the warmth of having their neighbors take care of them.”
Councilman Peter Koo (D- Flushing) praised the dinner.
“This is really a wonderful event,” he said. “During the holidays a lot of people are lonely and they don’t have financial resources to buy a cooked meal and they can come here on that day and share the meal with everyone. This is very good, especially during Christmas.”
Flushing community activist Sherrell Jordan was moved when she volunteered at last year’s event.
“I’m elated to be here again with Danny’s Steak House and all the sponsors,” she said. “My daughter, Michaiah, and I were able to volunteer last year, and what touched me the most was that there were so many people that said ‘Thank you, we didn’t know how we were going to eat.’ One woman had her grandchildren with her and she said, ‘Thank you, I didn’t have any food.’
She thanked Lye and the community for their part in the community initiative.
Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Flushing Town Hall at (718) 463-7700 or reach Helen Yang at (718) 286-9479.
Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmart
