A Coney Island lawmaker distributed dozens of hot meals, face masks, and bottles of hand sanitizer to households across southern Brooklyn on April 19.
“New Yorkers have always come together to help each other in trying times, and the coronavirus pandemic is no different,” said Assemblywoman Mathylde Frontus. “These donated masks will enable residents to comply with the recently issued executive order, while the meals will nourish and comfort residents who can’t leave their homes.”
Frontus, joined by a group of staffers and a dozen volunteers, went door-to-door in her assembly district on Saturday afternoon, delivering 1,000 face masks, 600 bottles of water, and 60 hot meals to more than 100 households in Coney Island, Sea Gate, Gravesend, Brighton Beach, Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, and Dyker Heights.
The recipients had requested assistance through local organizations prior to the event, according to Frontus’ Communications Director Jacob Goldfinger. Her office received the donations of hot meals and masks from Board Chairman of Homecrest Community Services Don Lee, and the hand sanitizers from MetroPlus Health Plan.
The giveaway comes one week after Frontus and a group of other assembly members wrote a letter to Kathryn Garcia, New York City’s COVID-19 food czar, requesting that the city streamline the food distribution procedure to homebound residents — shortening the waiting period between approval to the food assistance program and delivery, and offering recurring food delivery packages.
“Under the circumstances, it is crucial that vulnerable seniors receive sufficient food as quickly as possible, for as long as necessary,” read the letter, signed by Frontus and nine other pols, including Assemblymembers Harvey Epstein, Liz Krueger, Walter Mosley, David Weprin, Nicole Malliotakis, Brian Barnwell, Dan Quart, Felix Ortiz, and Rebecca Seawright.
