Event Serves Over 800 Holiday Meals to Local Community Members
On November 2, 2013 Citibank and Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement hosted their Eighth Annual Fall Family Feast Day at Riis Settlement’s Queensbridge site. Over 800 local community members were served a holiday meal. The nutritious meals were served free of charge and prepared by Citibank volunteers.
Riis Settlement’s Fall Family Feast is made possible through the generous support of Citibank, the agency’s longtime community partner. Over 80 Citi volunteers along with Riis staff worked to bring an air of cheerful, holiday spirit to Queensbridge and the Western Queens community at-large. The four-hour event featured music by a live DJ, arts and crafts for the children and a face painter. A special appearance was made by the Mets mascot, “Mr. Met.” It was an event for the entire family to enjoy.
“Our Fall Family Feast is one of our most highly-anticipated holiday events here,” said Christopher Hanway, Executive Director of the Settlement House. “Our partnership with Citibank is extremely important to the work we do to serve and celebrate our community. It’s been a great experience working with them every year to give back to those in need.”
Delfina Wood, a Citibank employee working in its Creative Management department, has been volunteering at Fall Family Feast for the past seven years. Mrs. Wood said, “I’ve been participating in the Fall Family Feast ever since it started. It’s a great way to give back to the community, especially since Citibank has its roots here in the Long Island City neighborhood.” Mrs. Wood grew up in Long Island City and her mother grew up in the Queensbridge housing projects.
Long-time community member and active Riis Settlement Senior Center participant Nellie Pettway expressed how great it was to see so many community members come together. “It’s always wonderful to come out to the Fall Family Feast. I get to see so many of my friends and meet their families which is always an exciting opportunity.”
Robert Madison, Director of Senior Services said it was one of the most organized Fall Family Feast events the organization ever conducted. “It is our pleasure to say that we served 806 people during this year’s event, which included meals delivered to homebound residents in the area. Our gymnasium was transformed into a wonderful holiday venue primed for a good meal and some holiday fun. We look forward to next year’s event and hope to continue bringing the holiday spirit to our community.”
To check out photos from this year’s Fall Family feast, check out our Facebook page.
