Queens Defenders is very excited to share an expansion of our Community Outreach services to the Jamaica area. These new services include weekly pop-up food pantry events, and expansion of our community-based immigration, housing, and legal support, and new initiatives launching in the coming weeks and months.
Since launching the program expansion in February, the Jamaica pop-up food pantry quickly grew to reach hundreds of families each week. Food distribution events are held every Wednesday afternoon. The Jamaica Justice Center also served as a COVID-19 vaccination site conducted in partnership with Community Healthcare Network. Thanks to the help of this great organization, Queens Defenders was able to provide 120 Moderna vaccination shots and 300 Johnson & Johnson vaccinations over two events in March and April.
With new additions to our community relations team – Johanna Flores, Community Coordinator and Sarah Murphy, Community Assistant – Queens Defenders is able to provide more events like these to provide essential services in a centralized location for Queens Defenders clients and residents throughout the borough. These new hires, including Employment Specialist Ronald Anderson, have the goal of creating a training and employment program that will create a streamlined process giving Queens Defenders clients the job readiness training needed to enter the workforce.
For more information on Food Pantry distribution events and services offered at the Jamaica Justice Center, please contact jflores@queensdefenders.org