**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

To honor the 10^th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, Assembly Member Anderson provides funding to Queens Defenders for the renovation of the Queens Defenders Emergency Distribution Center in Far Rockaway.

October 26^th, 2022 – (FAR ROCKAWAY) – Today, in honor of the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, Queens Defenders and New York State Assembly Member Anderson broke ground on renovations to the Queens Defenders Emergency Distribution Center thanks to funding provided by the Assembly Member. This funding of $150,000 was generously provided through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York’s (DASNY) Community Capital Assistance Program and is part of Assembly Member’s dedication to expanding emergency provisions throughout Far Rockaway to safeguard against future emergencies such as Hurricane Sandy.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Far Rockaway residents were hit the hardest.  They faced massive flooding, prolonged disruptions in utilities, and difficulty accessing food, water, and gasoline, and they experienced significant structural barriers to the distribution of emergency supplies. The Queens Defenders Emergency Distribution Center is located directly on the evacuation route and in an area that will experience limited flooding. With this Distribution Center, Assembly Member Anderson is ensuring that Far Rockaway is prepared for the next storm.

Today’s event was attended by Queens Defenders staff that work directly with the Warehouse and partners of the Queens Defenders Food Pantry including Gabrielle Mosquera, Deputy Director of Teens for Food Justice; Dr. Melony Samuels Founder & Executive Director of Campaign Against Hunger, and others. Before hearing from Assembly Member Anderson an introduction was given by Hettie Powell, Queens Defenders’ Managing Director, and Brian Schatz, Queens Defenders’ Director of Community-Based Initiatives & External Affairs, who expressed the organization’s gratitude to the Assembly Member and commitment to serving the Far Rockaway community. Those in attendance also heard from staff who work with the Queens Defenders Food Pantry & Domestic Violence services, who shared stories of clients and community members who depend on these impactful programs.

Queens Defenders’ Managing Director Hettie Powell stated, “On behalf of Queens Defenders leadership, board of directors, staff, and especially the individuals we serve every day, we offer our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the Assembly Member for his partnership, leadership, and commitment to the residents of Queens, and we look forward to working with your office to address food insecurity throughout the Rockaways. When he first learned about our Food Justice initiative, the Assembly Member brought his trademark enthusiasm, energy, and solutions-focused mindset to address infrastructure needs of the communities he represents. A leading voice in addressing issues of food insecurity and disaster preparedness, Assembly Member Anderson’s commitment to these important issues is evident in his advocacy and diligence in directing state resources to the 31st Assembly District.”

Queens Defenders’ Director of Community-Based Initiatives & External Affairs Brian Schatz spoke on the impact of the program to the Far Rockaway community by stating, “In 2020 Queens Defenders began our food justice initiative in direct response to our clients’ needs during the unprecedented COVID-19 Pandemic.  What began as a way to serve our clients quickly turned into a critically needed resource for the community and our partners stepped up to support this effort.  Partnerships were formed with The Food Bank for New York, The Campaign Against Hunger, 9 Million Reasons, Urban Upbound, Teens for Food Justice, and Sister Denean Ferguson. Our partners in elected office took notice and began directing resources:  Assembly Member Khlaeel Anderson, New York City Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, State Senator James Sanders, Jr., and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. And the work attracted the attention of supporters who contributed to this effort with grants and gifts:  Atul Kothari from The Ask Kothari Foundation and JEWELEX, The Hyde and Watson Foundation, The New York Bar Foundation, The Pickman Foundation and Whitehall Terrace, and hundreds of Queens Defenders staff and individual donors contributed to ensuring that the individuals and families we serve have access to healthy food and essential supplies.”

“I am proud to announce a historic $150,000 investment for the Queens Defenders Emergency Food Storage Facility that will provide critical food service to the low-income and working-class families of Far Rockaway and Southeast Queens,” said Assembly Member Khaleel M. Anderson. “Superstorm Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the logistical struggles and challenges in delivering essential services like food throughout the Rockaways. This capital funding will support the procurement of refrigerated vehicles, forklifts, food storage containers and shelving, food prep and food box assembly areas, a commercial dishwasher, and stainless-steel sinks and workspaces. The construction and rehabilitation of this emergency food storage facility will help eliminate food disparities and bottlenecks. Moreover, the strategic location of this warehouse in Inwood, which is just off of the Rockaway peninsula, should help facilitate more safe and efficient transportation of food not if but when the next emergency happens. As we work together with partners to expand and fortify food infrastructure and delivery systems, our goal must be to develop a self-sufficient and food-sovereign community. We have to stay ready, so we do not have to get ready.”

Renovations on the warehouse are already in progress and will include a loading zone, a small office, and main area alterations to accommodate for the pallets of food provided by Queens Defenders Food Pantry partners, emergency PPE, and clothing provided by Delivering Good as well as other partners. The warehouse is scheduled to open in the Spring of 2023 with the public access being by appointment only through the Rockaway Community Justice Center.

Photos from this event can be found here and the full video of this event can be received upon request; for an interview or to request more information please reach out to Alora Sherbert at press@queensdefenders.org

ABOUT QUEENS DEFENDERS:  

Queens Defenders provides free, high-quality legal representation to individuals living in Queens County. Since 1996, Queens Defenders’ highly skilled attorneys have represented over 450,000 Queens residents and handle major trials and homicides, work with clients involved in Queens treatment courts, and represent cases involving domestic violence, youth charged with felonies, and immigrants facing criminal charges. Queens Defenders’ dedication to their clients and community goes beyond the courtroom with their expansive support programs for both adults and youth spreading throughout the borough. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization started the Queens Defenders Food Pantry first servicing a small group of clients and their families, but rapidly expanding to thousands served through weekly distributions in both Far Rockaway and Jamaica.

Learn more about our programs and work at queensdefenders.org