Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams joined the Turkish Cultural Center Brooklyn, a non-profit organization based in Sheepshead Bay, and Embrace Relief, a global relief effort providing aid to the underserved and those struck by disaster, in donating 1,500 pounds of meat to food pantries across Brooklyn. The contribution was made as part of an observance of Eid Al-Adha, a Muslim festival also known as the Feast of Sacrifice; according to Islamic custom, observers distribute meat as charity to commemorate Abraham’s obedience to God as he was tested to sacrifice his son. Joined by interfaith leaders, Borough President Adams spoke to the importance of serving the less fortunate in the borough.
“Hunger knows no religion,” said Borough President Adams. “I am delighted to be a conduit to assist food pantries in Brooklyn to fulfill the commitment of the Muslim community on Eid Al-Adha. Regardless of your religious persuasion, this is a bright day for Brooklyn, a bright day for our local food pantries who tirelessly feed thousands of individuals who are in need.”
“Turkish Cultural Center Brooklyn and Embrace Relief have joined together with Brooklyn Borough Hall to commemorate this year’s Feast of Sacrifice and help the needy bring meat to their tables,” said Feith Onal, director of Turkish Cultural Center Brooklyn. “We have vowed to distribute 1,500 pounds of meat to Brooklyn.” “One of the largest priorities of Embrace Relief is fighting hunger,” said Osman Dulgeroglu, CEO of Embrace Hunger. “According to the World Health Organization, there are 153 million children suffering from growth deficiency in developing countries. Last month, we distributed 3,000,000 pounds of meat in 13 different countries.” Fourteen food pantries receiving donations of meat from Borough President Adams, Turkish Cultural Center Brooklyn, and Embrace Relief included houses of worship and community-based organizations. The list of sites includes Bedford-Stuyvesant’s Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger; Brooklyn Heights’s First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn and Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims; Brownsville’s Church of God of East Flatbush; Canarsie’s Beraca Baptist Church; Crown Heights’s Full Gospel Assembly; East Flatbush’s God’s Battalion of Prayer, Maranatha SDA Church, and Mt. Zion Church of God 7thDay; Gowanus’s C.H.I.P.S. (Park Slope Christian Help, Inc.); Ocean Hill’s True Holy Church; Prospect-Lefferts Gardens’s St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church; and Williamsburg’s Los Sures Social Services and Trinity Human Services Corporation.
Many thanks go to the Turkish Cultural Center Brooklyn, Embrace Relief, and Borough President Adams for thinking of our clients and donating meat to our Trinity Human Services Corporation Food Pantry,” said Sister Woohee Sofia Lee of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi. “We always hope to add good protein and fresh produce in the bags we offer those in need of food. A donation like this is a godsend. We will share it with those in need, the best way we can. Thank you!”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Borough President Adams, Turkish Cultural Center Brooklyn, and Embrace Relief for donating meat to our food pantry,” said Reverend Michael Bacchus, senior pastor of Full Gospel Assembly. “Our food pantry has served the Crown Heights community on a weekly basis for over ten years. We greatly appreciate your generosity and continued support.”
