The NYPD distributed free Thanksgiving meals to hundreds of Harlem locals on Monday.
Lines of seniors and young families stretched around the block outside the Harlem Police Athletic League (PAL) Center 411 Manhattan Ave. on Nov. 25 as cops from Patrol Borough Manhattan North, the NYPD Community Affairs Unit and the PAL gave away free holiday meals.
Food insecurity skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic and remains an issue for many low-income families, especially around the holiday season when residents not only strive to feed themselves but also their loved ones.
This is where the NYPD say they stepped in. Purchasing turkeys and other food thanks to donations, the cops looked to set up space where those in need could collect the items they needed to enjoy the holiday.
“This is what happens when the community comes together for folks in need,” Assistant Chief Ruel Stephenson said. “We have police officers that donated money, we have local businesses that, when they heard about this, contributed, and then obviously we have people who volunteer their time.”
The officers helped pack turkeys into cart after cart, with grateful recipients thanking the cops, some so appreciative they embraced the police.
“It means the world to me; I grew up very poor,” Stephenson said. “This is what we’re placed here to do, is to help out our fellow community members. And it really makes me feel good. It makes me feel even better knowing that I have police officers who feel the same, and are willing to make this possible for people in the community.”
In addition to helping ensure families are fed, Stephenson says the giveaway also impacts public safety. The chief believes that when residents are provided with the necessities, many won’t feel the need to fall into crime to survive.
The giveaway also bridges the gap between cops and community members, allowing both sides to build a bond.
“When you think about some of the social issues that communities face, it all ties into quality of life and crime,” Stephenson said. “And so if we help and assist people in need, I know somewhere down the road, it prevents other issues that that are plaguing our communities. So I think this is a great thing that we can do. It allows community members to see that cops are just like any regular person.”
