Rajkumar, Zara Charitable Foundation donate turkeys

Queens Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-AD 38) on Friday hosted a successful turkey giveaway at her district office, in a partnership with the Queens-based Zara Charitable Foundation, in presenting hundreds of constituents with a turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner.
Rajkumar, 40, the daughter of Indian immigrants, has been representing the 38th Assembly District since 2021.
The district comprises the neighborhoods of Glendale, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood and Woodhaven.
Rajkumar said she organized the event as the cost of Thanksgiving Dinner reached “a record high this year”, with turkey increasing 20 percent, compared to 2021.
“Since I was a child, my family proudly celebrated the great American tradition of Thanksgiving. I am proud to establish this first-of-its-kind public-private partnership for my district to ensure all families here can celebrate Thanksgiving as well,” she said.
“Prices of turkeys are higher than ever this year, with record inflation,” she added. “So, my office has stepped in to provide the turkeys for free.
“This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for this opportunity to serve the people of South Queens as their State Assemblywoman,” continued Rajkumar, stating that the giveaway included over 400 turkeys “to ensure many enjoy a proper Thanksgiving holiday meal with loved ones.”
Since taking office, the assemblywoman said she has initiated new partnerships with philanthropists to serve constituents.
Guyanese-born Jay Sobhraj, executive of Zara Charitable Foundation said his foundation “practices what we believe through acts of compassion to help our community strengthen the bonds that make them family.
“We are proud to partner with Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumnar, a dedicated selfless leader, who understands that many are hanging on by the thinnest of threads and her fearless advocacy provides an unbreakable steel cable by which those who have fallen on hard times can pull themselves up,” he added. “We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.”
Tony Subraj, another Zara Charitable Foundation executive, said: “ZARA is honored to assist in providing hardworking New Yorkers with the opportunity to celebrate family values, together.
“Assemblywoman Rajkumar’s efforts to uplift the community is a victory and inspiration for those determined to attain happiness and reach prosperity,” he said. “We are proud to work with leaders that put the needs of people first, especially for a Happier Thanksgiving.”
Civic organizations – Cityline Ozone Park Civilian Patrol (COPCP) and the Richmond Hill-South Ozone Park Lions Club (RHSOP) – volunteered to help distribute the turkeys.
“COPCP is passionate about supporting initiatives that lift up the people of our community. Today’s turkey distribution does just that, allowing so many families to enjoy a proper Thanksgiving,” said Patricia Raghunandan, COPCP secretary and Ozone Park Pantry director.
“Thank you to our great friend Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar for always going above and beyond, and to Zara Charitable Foundation for their generous support,” she added.
RHSOP 2nd Vice District Governor Romeo Hitlall said: “We applaud Lion-Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and Zara Charitable Foundation for this groundbreaking initiative on Thanksgiving.
“They have truly gone the extra mile to serve our community,” he added. “RHSOP always turns out in full force to support initiatives that help our community, and today we were proud to lend our manpower to distribute turkeys at the Assemblywoman’s office.”
Rajkumar, the first Indian American woman ever elected to a New York State Office, was born and raised in Queens.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctorate (law degree) from Stanford Law School.