Calvary’s Mission Food Pantry in Richmond Hill Queens, is inundated with asylum seekers since an influx began last year. The migrants, hundreds of them, including women with infants strapped to their backs, waited from midnight, to receive basic food items at Saturday, Jan. 6, morning distribution.
Tony Singh, founder of the 20-year run larder, who has faced challenges with complaints from residents, due to the pantry’s 102-16 89th Avenue neighborhood, has made it possible for everyone who stands on the line to receive groceries, by moving lines closer to a business area to ease tensions.
run a swift shift every Saturday serving hundreds of migrants and residents through long lines. They line-up early in the morning for groceries to feed their families. From left, Kevin Sookdeo, Roger Gary, Sister Felicia, and founder, Tony Singh, on Jan. 6. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
Migrants seeking free food giveaways are welcomed to Calvary’s Mission weekly, said Singh, a businessman, who joined forces with Managing Director Kevin Sookdeo, and Pastor Kemraj Singh, to get endowments, and millions of pounds of food from City Harvest, the New York Food Bank, and private donations.
“Twenty-twenty-three was a tough year, but we’re looking for great blessings in 2024, because we cannot do this without the help of the Lord. We prayed and trust in God as we served those in need throughout the years.
“Everyone who comes through this gate leaves with enough food, that’s a blessing by itself. If we can be a blessing to someone else, it’s a great opportunity for us, at the pantry. Our motto is ‘United for the greater good.’
“At Calvary’s Mission we are being blessed. We have a great staff. We have leadership, and we thank the pastor for giving us this location so that we can serve our community,” said Singh.
“Migrants, as well as residents from Brooklyn, the Bronx and other communities come for food, because people are working but they can’t make ends meet, and even though the minimum wage was raised to $16.00, it is still difficult because food is very expensive,” he added.
The humanitarian, who over the holiday season shared 120 boxes of food to migrants in Manhattan, has extended his help beyond the pantry by teaming up with Sister Eunice, a volunteer, to provide hot meals with items obtained from the pantry.
“We try to meet the needs from a food security standpoint. We also distribute clothing to asylum seekers and serve hot meals outside of Home Depot to those looking for jobs, as well as in other communities,” said Sister Eunice.
“It’s a massive task because we’re bringing in millions of pounds of food every single year. Last year we gave out 1,000,000 lbs. of food and every single year we would get more, that’s a great thing knowing that we can source so much food but it’s also very disheartening, knowing that so many people are in need,” said Kevin Sookdeo.
Every single week we’re getting more and more individuals on the line. We’re dealing not only with the working poor here in Richmond Hill Queens, but throughout the five boroughs people know the quality of the food that we give, so they travel from the Bronx because it’s just so difficult to make ends meet now,” he explained.
“We’re also dealing with a lot of the migrants who are looking for assistance as well, so we’re able to source enough food. I thank God that we have the volunteers here who diligently wake up every single Saturday morning, leave their beds and come to give of their time,” said Sookdeo.
Board member, Roger Gary, who keeps order at an intersection, said the number of people receiving food will spike this year, because despite persons being employed, they still need a hand-up, and added that the pantry is not just for the less fortunate. “I know a lot of these people on the line, they are here week after week.”
“We treat them with dignity and make sure everyone leaves with what is needed. They lineup very early hoping that they would get more food items, but that’s not the case. Everyone is treated equally, until the line closes at 11 a.m.,” he noted.
Religious organizations also benefit from the weekly pantry that is diligently run by a committed team of volunteers, headed by Sister Felicia.
“Calvary’s Mission is all about giving to the poor and the needy. We receive delivery during the week, from the New York Food Bank, City Harvest, Target, and private donors, and distribute everything we receive. We thank everyone that comes to volunteer every Saturday,” said the pantry leader.
” I want to thank our donors; they’re donating this food for a good purpose it means a lot to this neighborhood and we try our hardest to get as much food as possible. We have received thousands of pounds of food,” she added.
