Commonpoint Queens Gives Out Its Millionth Pound Of Food

LITTLE NECK, QUEENS — Commonpoint Queens on Tuesday celebrated an impactful milestone: distributing its millionth pound of food since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The social services organization, formerly known as the Samuel Field Y in Bayside and Central Queens Y in Forest Hills, has given out more than one million pounds of food at its two emergency food pantries, according to a news release.

The organization has distributed more than 850,000 meals to Queens residents to date, and it's on pace to provide 1.4 million pounds of food by the end of the year.

“Today is not a celebration, our greatest need is still ahead of us,” Commonpoint Queens CEO Danielle Ellman said. “We would not be standing here today without so many incredible community partners and so many brave staff and volunteers who hand-delivered food packages, but the reality is that the need is far from over.”

Commonpoint Queens runs a food pantry in Forest Hills in partnership with UJA Federation of New York and the Met Council on Jewish Poverty.

The organization opened a second pantry this spring at the Tanenbaum Family Pool in Little Neck.

“In such a dangerous time, Commonpoint’s staff and volunteers risked their lives to get food delivered to our home-bound elders and families,” Queens Borough President Sharon Lee said in a statement. “This has truly been an amazing team effort, so we declare October 27th as Commonpoint Queens Day.”

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.