QUEENS — Teens attending a Forest Hills afterschool program hope to help a local charity feed the hungry.
The Beacon Program at J.H.S. 190 Russell Sage has launched a kosher food drive and is collecting canned foods for the Rego Park’s Masbia Soup Kitchen.
Masbia, which provides hot meals as well as take-home packages of groceries to the needy at several locations in Brooklyn and Queens, has suffered a food shortage in recent weeks.
Once the teens found out about it, they wanted to help, said Patrick Pinchinat, the director of the Forest Hills Beacon, an enrichment program that serves over 1,000 children and teens.
“We wanted to show that our youth in afterschool programs care about their community,” Pinchinat noted, adding that the goal is to also teach the kids "the importance of giving back to the community."
The initiative collected hundreds of canned goods since its launch on Thursday, and items have already been delivered on the same day to Masbia at 98-08 Queens Blvd.
But the food drive will continue in the upcoming weeks.
Local residents are encouraged to stop by and support the initiative.
"We want to get people involved," Pinchinat said. "It's all about community working together."
Those interested in donating canned food can do so at J.H.S 190 Russell Sage on 68-17 Austin St. (use the school yard entrance) Monday through Friday between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Saturday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Cans can also be donated directly to Masbia. For more information contact Patrick Pinchant at 718-830-5233 or by email at ppinchinat@qchnyc.org.
