The Rotary Club of Harlem partnered with Active Plus and other local New York and Harlem organizations to host a very successful second annual “Food for the Soul: Food Packing Event” on November 3, 2018.

Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer said it well in the speech she made to thank the community members that came out, “We cannot do it alone.”

It takes a community to help a community.

This community event really highlighted the generosity of spirit, will and time of the Uptown Community. Over 160 volunteers came together at the Salvation Army Harlem Temple and spent the day packing simple but nutritious protein-enriched meals provided by The Outreach Program.

25,488 meals were packed in just four hours and were ready for distribution to food pantries at the Salvation Army, the Fraternite of Notre Dame, as well as three Harlem Congregation for Community Improvement (HCCI) Members: Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church, Saint Charles Borromeo Church and Convent Avenue Baptist Church. This far surpassed the 20,000 meal goal we had for the day.

Hunger IS a problem that can be solved, and the Harlem community of all ages and backgrounds came out to help make this true.

A special thank you to our community partners who helped make this event happen with their in-person attendance and support:

• Office of Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer
• Office of Assemblyman Al Taylor
• Office of Senator Brian Benjamin
• EmblemHealth
• New York State Nurses Association
• UnitedHealth Care
• Affinity Health Plan
• Infinity Bible Church
• AP Test Service
• Carver Bank
• Ponce Bank
• Ridgewood Savings Bank
• NH Design Studios
• NYU Langone Health: Department of Radiology
• Cory Nieves, Mr. Cory’s Cookies

What a day!