A senior citizen dealing with food insecurity got $500 worth of gift cards from the Met Council to purchase food, thanks to efforts on her behalf by a staffer for Assemblyman William Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights).

The constituent had come into the office, at 155 Kings Highway, with her problem, and staffer Andrew Contrino immediately got on the case. He reached out to Met Council, a not-for-profit organization which, according to its mission statement, “works to address the most urgent needs of those experiencing poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, or any other crisis while simultaneously using our considerable influence and resources to eliminate the root causes of these hardships at the societal and policy levels.”

“Food insecurity is a huge problem that must be addressed in a holistic way,” said Assemblyman Colton. “But, that being said, it’s critical to assist individuals who need help putting dinner on the table. In our great country, no one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from; in particular, our seniors – who worked for decades to make sure they would be able to retire in comfort – should not face the specter of hunger. I am so grateful to the Met Council -- which is committed to helping residents of the tri-state area through a panoply of programs, from food pantries to affordable housing services – for stepping up and helping in this instance.”