Lower East Side, NY – On Saturday, Assemblymember Grace Lee and Vision Urbana launched their 7th annual turkey drive on the Lower East Side. For seven years running, Assemblymember Lee and Vision Urbana have organized the largest annual turkey drive on the Lower East Side, delivering over 1,500 turkeys and chickens to families in public and subsidized housing.

This turkey drive comes at a time when food insecurity is rapidly increasing across New York City and the Lower East Side. Trump and Republicans delayed SNAP funding for over 3 million families in New York. Rising food costs are putting a strain on local families this holiday season, with costs increasing over 18% since 2022.

“Trump and Republicans are slashing our federal safety net and raising food prices. I’m proud to be easing the burden for families on the Lower East Side by making sure more families can have a turkey on their table this Thanksgiving,” said Assemblymember Grace Lee. “This drive is a great example of how much our Lower East Side community supports each other in times of need. It is a joy to connect with so many residents and share the holiday spirit. I wish everyone in the district a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.”

“There is a food pantry desert south of Grand Street on the Lower East Side impacting the lives of thousands of NYCHA residents who must also deal with the rising costs of food and cuts to SNAP benefits. For this reason, Vision Urbana and its board are grateful to have a champion in Albany who advocates for weekly pantry services like ours who in addition to her advocacy, is able to sponsor at the local level what has become an annual tradition of the largest home delivered thanksgiving drive on the Lower East Side for the seventh year in a row - our Assemblymember Grace Lee,” said Eric Diaz, Executive Director Vision Urbana Inc. “This event is unique because it is home delivery of turkeys to the front door of families restoring a sense of dignity and pride to our culturally diverse Lower East Side community. Each delivery is more than a turkey, it is hope. Vision Urbana is grateful this year for an Assemblymember who represents the needs of those living below the federal poverty level and our public housing communities. I would also like to thank our food security partners including Trinity Church Wall Street, the Hispanic Federation, City Harvest, our incredible volunteers from New York Cares and local supporters who helped make it possible for more than 1,500 households on the Lower East Side to prepare and share a holiday meal with loved ones!”

Additional partners of the turkey drive included Congressmember Dan Goldman, Senator Brian Kavanagh, Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, Councilmember Christopher Marte, the Hispanic Federation, Trinity Church Wall Street, and City Harvest.