St. Gabriel's Church serves hope to the hungry and food insecure

Despite the cold and blustering weather last Friday, more than 100 families came out to St. Gabriel’s Church first-ever food giveaway, pop-up.

Sponsored by the church and distributed by Catholic Charities’, Feeding Our Neighbors program -- the filled bags contained about a weeks-worth of groceries. Items included a whole chicken, vacuum-sealed salmon filets, heads of lettuce, cucumbers, canned goods, bags of rice, onions, potatoes, apples and more.

“We’re assessing what the needs are of our neighborhood,” Father Seán Connolly of St. Gabriel’s Church told The Press.

Typically, Feeding Our Neighbors sees 350 to 400 families per pop-up in impoverished neighborhoods throughout the city, according to program manager Rolando Rodriguez. The one in Riverdale fed about half that. However, feeding more than 100 families within two hours is not nothing.

Rodriguez, who has been working with Feeding Our Neighbors since its inception in 2020 -- created in response to the pandemic -- said he has witnessed the greatest need in the South Bronx, where the program is headquartered.

He added those who are food insecure aren’t necessarily poor or homeless. He said he sees plenty of young adults who come out of college, can’t find a job in their field, are burdened by student debt and struggle to afford the essentials.

At nearly 40 percent, food insecurity in NYC is highest in the Bronx, according to the NYS Department of Health. And with rents accounting for nearly 50 percent of one’s income, travel costs and the rising cost of goods, middle-class individuals are finding it harder to make ends meet.

People were shy to speak to the media as they shuffled in and out of the St. Gabriel’s parking lot near 235^thStreet and Netherland Avenue.

“Maybe some people are a little ashamed to talk about it, but we see it every day,” Rodriguez said. “You see them walking down the street, you wouldn’t think it, but the need is definitely out there.”

The wind was ferocious last Friday as bundled up volunteers checked in individuals and helped them with additional services.

“Mother nature decided not to be very nice today,” Joann Torres said, who was working the Catholic Charities table and struggling to catch her rogue “Know Your Rights” flyers that were blowing in the wind.

With President Trump’s recent DEI roll backs and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents cracking down on undocumented New Yorkers, especially in the Bronx, organizations across the city have been hosting “Know Your Rights” information seminars and some also provide free services to immigrants seeking legal assistance.

RiverSpring Living and Fidelis Care health insurance had tables at the venue, the former handing out homemade cookies from the Hebrew Home, but both holding down their stacks of paper with either a bunch of bananas at one station or a pineapple at the other.

The food truck was provided courtesy of The Rusty Staub Foundation, named after the former baseball player who held several positions with The Mets and later became a commentator until his death in 2018.

Kicking off on Ash Wednesday, March 5 this year, Connolly expressed the importance of lent – 40 days of fasting, reflection and charity. Typically, individuals give something up for the 40 days -- Connolly chose meat.

“A little pain in the belly of hunger makes us mindful of those who are without and makes us more mindful of what we have,” he said.