Bronx Local News: Bronx Residents Struggling to Give Thanks in Wake of SNAP Shutdown

Huge Lines Throughout the Bronx of People Looking for Food

Hundreds of Bronxites turn out for a turkey giveaway at St. James Park and hosted by Councilwoman Pierina Sanchez. -Photo by David Greene

By David Greene 

Bronx Voice 

December 2, 2025

BRONX LOCAL NEWS - Only weeks after the federal government shutdown temporarily halted millions of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients from getting their November’s benefits for food—Bronx nonprofits, churches, food banks and individuals stepped up to the plate, literally and delivered thousands of free turkey meals to the less fortunate for Thanksgiving.

Bishop Boyd Singletary, the senior pastor and founder of the Alpha & Omega Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ who runs a food pantry with his mother pastor and co-founder of the church, Dr. Cheryl Singletary and a handful of volunteers held a turkey giveaway during their regular pantry event at The People’s Park on East 141 Street on November 19. On Saturday, November 22, they returned again to pass out 100 holiday meals to the families of 40 local veterans as well as 40 homeless families.

Volunteers prepare plates of food at the Open Hand Association on Lydig Avenue. -Photo by David Greene

On November 23, the church held its 5^th Annual Vets Giving event at the corner of East 149 Street and Third Avenue. A flyer distributed throughout the Mott Haven section stated, “We will be donating food to veterans and their families, so they have a complete and proper Thanksgiving dinner.”

Bishop Singletary pointed out that many of the veterans in attendance are currently homeless. On this day the Alpha & Omega Church would hand out 144 meals with recipients, choosing between Halal chicken with rice, or pork with vegetables and rice or steak and rice as well as carrots, a box of stuffing, corn, onions and potatoes. Water and soda were also included.

At the same time and a block away, at the corner of East 148 Street and Willis Avenue Bronxite Jazmine Pineda was seen handing out plates of food to a crowd that had gathered at the corner.

Pineda told the Bronx Voice, “I have been doing this for a few years now, I usually do this on 34^th Street. I just print a flyer and ask people to donate trays of food and volunteer or send me money through Zelle or Cash App and then we buy everything with the money they donate, and the food that people donate to the cause.”

Pineda said she grew up in the area and recently returned, adding, “The other day I saw there were a lot of homeless people in the area and a lot of people doing drugs, so this year I decided that this year to not do it on 34^th Street by Penn Station but do it where I’m from.” She was prepared to feed over 150 people.

On November 25, a line of hundreds of people was observed at a turkey giveaway hosted by Councilman Oswald Feliz that stretched from his office on Hoffman Street, across East Fordham Road for two blocks to Hughes Avenue. Belmont resident Erica, who was joined by her husband Robert, said of the giveaway, “It’s a blessing that Mr. Feliz is doing something great for the community. Everyday we have to be thankful and blessed for things like this.”

Also on November 25, Open Hand Association on Lydig Avenue, a full-time food pantry was prepared to hand out up to 1,000 turkeys and the following day they hoped to serve turkey meals to 500 people.

Robert, a Pelham Parkway resident visiting the Open Hand pantry, was asked if this was his first time at Open Hand, he replied, “For Thanksgiving it’s my first time, but I was coming here for food during the week on Thursday’s and they told me they may have turkeys today.” Asked how the meal helps, Robert said, “It helps a lot because the budget is tightening these days, right? So, it helps feed the kids and everything.”

As the topic turned to the SNAP funding delay as well as cuts to the program, Robert recalled, “I think I applied years ago and they turned me down and now since I retired a year-and-a-half ago, I never applied again. I’m on Social Security now. Maybe I can get some now, but with (President Donald) Trump I doubt it.”

Other notable food giveaways were held at the Morris Park Boxing Club on Morris Park Avenue, VIP Community Services on East 176 Street, Personal Touch Medical on Williamsbridge Road and the Westchester Square Business Improvement District held an event at the Harvest Fields Community Church on East Tremont Avenue.

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