Local elected officials and community leaders are asking residents to help continue the mission of the late, beatified Mother Teresa.
Near what would have been the missionary’s 105th birthday, Councilman James Vacca, Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, the Bronx Jewish Community Council of Pelham Parkway and the Albanian-American Society Foundation are asking for donations of non-perishable food items for those in need.
The 5th annual Mother Teresa Food Drive continues the work of the world renowned humanitarian.
Food items can be donated until Tuesday, August 25 at either Councilman Vacca’s District Office on 3040 E. Tremont Avenue or Assemblyman Gjonaj’s District Office on 1126 Pelham Parkway South.
Participants may drop off any non-perishable food items on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at either office.
“We believe this is a wonderful opportunity for people to give back to the community just as Mother Teresa did during her many years of service,” Councilman Vacca said. “We hope this food drive helps raise more public awareness on this often unaddressed issue.”
“This food drive brings awareness that there are so many in the community who go hungry not knowing if and when their next meal will come,” Assemblyman Gjonaj added. “These people live among us, they are our neighbors and their kids go to our children’s schools and superficially, you would not know this to be the case. Poverty knows no boundaries.”
The assemblyman also said that every food item donated for this drive goes directly toward improving the lives of those suffering within our communities.
Located at 2157 Holland Avenue, BJCCPP’s food pantry is the third largest in the Bronx distributing over 2,400 food packages each month and serving approximately 12,000 people annually throughout the borough.
The food pantry is open five days a week, but often runs out of food, according to Vacca.
“We’re asking people to help fill this food pantry and participate in this annual food drive which we began on Mother Teresa’s 100th birthday and corresponds with her work in helping families and children and providing them with food and nutrition,” the councilman explained.
“As councilman, I have appropriated money for this food pantry every year, but there is a component in which citizens must help out as best they can,” he added.
“There is so much poverty around us and it’s painful to know there are people struggling to keep themselves fed,” Gjonaj said. “I encourage everyone to participate in this food drive to help these struggling members of our community.”
“We’re honored to be participating once again with Councilman Vacca, Assemblyman Gjonaj and the Albanian-American Society Foundation for this year’s food drive to help out the many people in need throughout our borough’s communities,” David Edelstein, BJCCPP executive director said. “This is a wonderful event commemorating a woman whose great deeds are admired by everyone throughout the world and is a way of helping those who are most in need of that same generosity.”
