Seventy years ago when the Great Depression hit the city, people from all walks of life were forced to stand in breadlines to help feed their families. Today, breadlines are mostly occupied by the homeless or extremely poor people. In South Jamaica, Queens it’s a different story.
About two weeks ago while riding the bus, I noticed that two nearby churches had people standing on the lines with shopping carts and bags waiting to get food. Mt. Moriah Community Church and Universal Calvary Church Incorporated give food to anyone who joins that line. Mt. Moriah Community Church is located at 110-22 Sutphin Boulevard. Universal Calvary Church Incorporated can be found a block away at 109- 20 Sutphin Boulevard.
What actually made me take notice was seeing a lot of neighbors and old friends waiting on the line.–many of whom I knew had good income and could afford to buy their own food. “They only go because it is free food,” says Maleka Aiken, a 20-year resident of the neighborhood. “I know plenty of people on that line who have a good job and own a home with two cars in the driveway.”
Most of the food is donated from local supermarkets or people in the neighborhood. The pastor asks if people are willing to buy food and drop it off or bring in canned goods out of their pantry. Twice a week as early as seven in the morning to as late as noon, people line up to receive bread, canned goods, meat, juice, etc. “Take as much as you need,” yells one of the volunteers passing out the food. These churches have been doing this for nearly four years and consider it a way to give back to the community.
Brittney Dickens, has lived in the neighborhood all of her life and “never goes to these churches for Sunday service, but I do come to get the food.”
This is a good program for any neighborhood. The one thing that startled me was when you mentioned that people you know with good incomes collect free food. You might think that they have money, but maybe things have suddenly changed in their lives, so that’s why they are dependent on the donations from the church.
I know people who go to these breadlines, get the food and put it in a barrel and send it to another country. I have seen people collect the food and put it in the trunk of their car and drive off.
I think that the program is a good idea, but perhaps there needs to be some system in place to ensure that the people who are taking these meals, are truly in need. I also know of some people that collect food from these places, but they are very poor. It’s definitely sad that they are depriving those who are really deserve it, of those food supplies.
I understand your point of view Jessica, but I strongly doubt it because these are people who have the latest car, biggest jewelry, or the newest designer handbag. Yes, I know that people’s income can go up and down, but if you can have all of that and not afford food to put on your table then your priorities are all wrong.
I have to agree with you Hutchinson. I never understood how people who live in housing projects drive $100,000 cars and use food stamps to buy their food. Their priorities are definitely distorted.