“I’m not leaving without my turkey.”
Thanksgiving Day or as we Latinos call it ‘El Día del Pavo’ is just around the corner and thousands of New Yorkers don’t have the resources to afford dinner.
This is the case of Mercedes Guillén, 75, who is a widow and lives alone in Washington Heights, but celebrates it with her children.
“The food they give me here at least saves me some money, because food is very expensive everywhere. You take 200 pesos and they go away like nothing, like saliva and you’re not done buying,” Mercedes said.
Like Guillen, the cold didn’t stop the more than 210 families who gathered in front of the ‘Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation’ to receive their pantry and especially the long-awaited turkey just in time for the party.
“I’m interested in the turkey, because I don’t buy it, I don’t have to buy it, that’s it, I would like them to give me my turkey. I’m waiting for it, I’m looking at it with nails, to put it once and for all,” added Mercedes.
As millions of New Yorkers gather during the holiday season to enjoy food with family and friends, a report from the city’s Robin Hoods Poverty Tracker, titled “Spotlight On Food Assistance,” paints a bleak picture of food insecurity.
According to the report in 2021:
-30% of adults have had some type of eating difficulty.
-6% of adults had severe eating difficulties.
-4 out of 10 families with children with sporadic eating difficulties
-1 out of 10 families with children with frequent eating difficulties.
Delivery to Turkey.
María Lizardo, director of NMIC, says she has seen an increase in people who have signed up to receive food handouts in recent months, which is why this delivery is so important today.
“We will be delivering a turkey today, despite the normality, which includes carrots, spaghetti, rice, but turkey is so expensive and we know many families may not have turkeys next Thursday and we are very proud of that through our volunteers,” Lizzardo explained.
For the organization’s more than 20 volunteers, knowing that at least these families received what they needed today is very gratifying.
“Always serving the community. We are serving them food, serving them turkey, to ensure that many families have to eat today and next week,” said Glenda Sánchez.
There is no question that the pandemic has had mixed effects on the economic conditions of New Yorkers with declining incomes and the reduction of support services, changes that have fueled a series of parallel crises such as food insecurity, housing instability and financial stress.
