Poverty-stricken families get free food for Passover Seder

March 27, 2018 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Councilmember Kalman Yeger checks his list in the food distribution warehouse on New Utrecht Avenue on the day of Passover food giveaway. Photo courtesy of Yeger’s office

Share this:

Hundreds of Brooklyn families struggling to make ends meet will be able to prepare a Passover Seder thanks to a Kosher food distribution project supported by community groups and elected officials.

Borough Park community leaders and elected officials got together with representatives of the Borough Park Jewish Community Council (BPJCC) last week to distribute Passover care packages to approximately 1,000 underprivileged families.

The distribution included more than 300,000 lbs. of produce, according to Councilmember Kalman Yeger (D-Borough Park-Midwood-Bensonhurst), who took part in the food giveaway, hauling sacks of potatoes and cases of Kedem grape juice and “Kosher for Pesach” Coca-Cola products to families outside the distribution headquarters on New Utrecht Avenue.

“The Pesach Seder is the most important family gathering of the year and an essential part of Jewish life. I’m so proud of how our community comes together to help make Pesach a bit easier for those in need,” Yeger said in a statement.

Pesach is a Hebrew term for Passover.

Passover begins at sundown on March 30 and ends on April 7.

Members of the Borough Park Shomrim volunteer patrol organization and other civic organizations helped distribute the food packages. Councilmember Mathieu Eugene (D-Kensington) also participated in the project.

“As in previous years, it has been the pleasure of Borough Park Shomrim to partner up with BPJCC to distribute food to 1,000 families,” said Jacob Daskal of Shomrim.

Former Councilmember David G. Greenfield, the C.E.O. of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, organized the food giveaway with BPJCC.

“The sad reality is that so many families who ‘make it’ during the year struggle before Pesach because of the high cost of Kosher food. That’s why what we’re doing with the Borough Park JCC is so vital. We are partnering together to make sure that no family gets left behind this Pesach,” Greenfield stated.

Yeger, who was elected to the City Council in November, holds the seat once held by Greenfield.