Over 250 people received free food, thanks to a food distribution held outside the district office of Assemblyman William Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 6.

The foodstuffs for the event – a mix of shelf-stable canned and boxed foods and fresh fruits and vegetables -- were provided by the Pakistani American Youth Organization (PAYO), a not-for-profit organization based on Coney Island Avenue.

“In this time of rising prices, when people are spending more for necessities and getting less, I am delighted to have facilitated this free food distribution,” said Assemblyman Colton. “I believe it is a moral imperative to help our neighbors in need, so we try to do whatever we can to help area residents make ends meet in the face of rising food insecurity. The dedication of organizations like PAYO makes our task easier.”

The assemblyman’s office sets up free food distributions whenever it is told by one of its non-profit partners that food is available. Frequently, there is little time between the initial notification and the arrival of the food to be distributed, making notification to the community at large a bit of a challenge. For that reason, the Bensonhurst Food Giveaway page on Facebook was set up to disseminate the information. In addition, the assemblyman’s office staff hangs flyers in high-traffic locations around the community, and calls people who have asked to be notified whenever a food distribution is taking place. To be added to that list, people can call the office at 718-236-1598.

Assemblyman Colton’s office is located at 155 Kings Highway.