In an era when prices on necessities are continuously going up, and food insecurity is becoming more common, Assemblyman William Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) and City Councilmember Susan Zhuang (D—Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Dyker Heights, Boro Park and Sunset Park) are working to help ease the situation for area residents.

The two officials, in conjunction with UA3 and Chinese American Social Services, are behind an effort to make sure that excess food that becomes available from local retailers finds its way to the kitchens of those in need, and to that end, they have set up a variety of mechanisms to let people know when food becomes available, usually at short notice.

“It’s a moral imperative, in my view, to make sure that people have enough to eat,” said Assemblyman Colton. “I am really pleased that we are able to help out, and want to make sure we can reach as many people as possible whenever we have a source of free food.”

“We’ve done two pop-up food pantries, and the turnout was huge. The need for food for our families is clear,” said Councilmember Zhuang. “I’m grateful to Chinese American Social Services and UA3 for thinking of our community and making these donations. I’m grateful to lead in a community dedicated to helping each other.”

The distributions – which will take place in front of Assemblyman Colton’s district office, 155 Kings Highway -- are open to everybody, said Assemblyman Colton, though supplies are obviously limited so when one occurs, it’s first-come, first-served until all the food is given out. Food cannot be held for anyone; you must be present at the distribution to partake.

“We hope to do these distributions once a month, at least,” said Assemblyman Colton. “The tricky part is that we don’t get much advance notice when food becomes available. Rather, one of our not-for-profit partners will get a call from one of their sources, telling them to pick up whatever is available that morning. They then call us, and we arrange a distribution for that afternoon. We have set up a Facebook page, Bensonhurst Food Giveaway, that anyone can follow, and we will post information about food giveaways on there, and we are also in the process of creating an email list. Our goal, when we find out that we have food to distribute, is to send out a mass email to everyone on our list, so that as many people as possible can take advantage of the opportunity.”

To be added to the email notification list, local residents should call Assemblyman Colton’s office at 718-236-1598 or stop by during office hours: Monday through Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday from noon to 8 p.m.; and Friday, from 10 a.m. to noon.