Handling the Coldest Week of Winter

On one of the coldest weeks of the winter, just days after a storm blanketed New York City in 10 inches of snow, we faced an unexpected crisis at our Astoria Community Center.

When Major Phil Wittenberg arrived early Tuesday morning, he knew something was wrong. There was no heat and no running water. Without water, our kitchen operations had to stop. But in less than 24 hours, we were expecting 150 of our neighbors to walk through our doors for a daily hot meal.

As soon as we assessed the situation, we activated our partners and reached out for support. Through the Hunger Collective program, Hope for New York quickly connected us with Rethink Food, a chef-led nonprofit that partners with more than 65 local restaurants to provide nutritious, freshly prepared meals to communities in need. Within minutes, Rethink Food committed to delivering 150 hot, individually packaged meals directly to our Astoria location. 

Over the course of three days, 450 meals were provided to our neighbors. This partnership ensured that, despite frozen pipes and freezing temperatures, no one went without food. 

A second plumbing issue arose the following Monday and the response was even faster. Within hours, meals were once again on their way. 

Thanks to strong partnerships and a shared commitment to serving our neighbors, what could have been a devastating interruption became a powerful reminder that when community comes together, hope moves quickly.