On Monday, October 26, Catholic Charities of New York was honored to welcome New York City Council Member Justin Sanchez to our South Bronx Hub, home to a food pantry and warehouse facility as well as offices for our workforce development and case management programs.
Council Member Sanchez’s district encompasses the South Bronx neighborhoods of Mott Haven, Melrose, Morrisania, Longwood, Hunts Point, Bronx River, and Crotona Park East. He chairs the City Council committee for Sanitation and Solid Waste Management and sits on several other committees.
Lakisha Morris, our Director of Food and Housing Stability, and Andrea Jordan, our Chief Program Officer, gave Council Member Sanchez a tour of the building, introducing him to staffers and volunteers.
The South Bronx Hub plays an important role in combating hunger, not just in the immediate neighborhood — where 37% of residents face food insecurity — but throughout the New York region.
The 2,000-square-foot warehouse sorts, packages, and delivers thousands of pounds of food to our network of food programs every day while operating its own pantry on site. In partnership with the Food Bank of New York City, City Harvest, and Goya Foods, staff and volunteers at the South Bronx Hub distribute 650,000 pounds of food each year to pantries across the Archdiocese’s service area.
When Council Member Sanchez visited the warehouse floor, he met a team of volunteers packing and sorting food.
“I volunteer three times a week, not just here, but at other spots,” Mariel, who has been pitching in at the warehouse for years, told the council member, “But I spend more time here than others, because this one’s the most special to me. I feel the most confident here.”
“I love exactly what I’m doing,” said Mariel. “And I plan on bringing my daughter to do this as well. She’s only six years old, but I want to teach her that it’s important to get involved.”
Council Member Sanchez was then introduced to the team that works on integration and legal support for New Americans. He stopped by an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training class, a workforce development initiative run by our Day Laborer Program, where he encouraged students to contact his office with any issues regarding unpaid wages, worksite safety, or housing disrepair.
After touring the hub, Council Member Sanchez met with our CEO, J. Antonio Fernández, to discuss how his office and Catholic Charities of New York can collaborate on some of the pressing issues facing the South Bronx, including hunger, affordability, and the need for self-sustaining employment.
“I am very appreciative that Council Member Sanchez took the time to visit our South Bronx facility and met with some of our staff, volunteers, and OSHA trainees,” said Fernández.
Fernández added, “I had a great conversation with him, and learned that we agree on some of the most important needs of the community, especially when it comes to food security and workforce development. He understands something fundamental to the work of Catholic Charities of New York: we have to provide people with immediate help, but we also must provide them with the tools and hope to build long-term stability and dignity.”
Council Member Sanchez also took a moment to greet Catholic Charities of New York intern Daniel, a freshman from Cristo Rey New York High School, and invite him to join the city’s Junior Council.
Catholic Charities of New York is deeply grateful to Council Member Sanchez and his staff for the visit, and we look forward to continued cooperation with the city and state government in building a network for support and care for our neighbors in need.
