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<\/a>MARCELO LOPEZ, PRESIDENT of the Unity Democratic Club (left), Morgan Evers, activist and teacher (in navy coat), Sirio Guerino of Guerinos against Graffitti* (in orange jacket), Danielle Herbert Guggenheim, teacher and former candidate for state assembly, (in green jacket) and Brandon Montes of Norwood Community Library (right) join volunteers from Youth Impact Bronx and others at a food distribution event held at the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center in the Norwood section of The Bronx on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, hosted by Theory 9 Inc. State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33) and Evers.\u00a0\u00a0Photo by Miriam Qui\u00f1ones<\/p>\n
Theory 9 Inc.<\/a>, a local nonprofit focused on empowering youth, Democratic State Sen. Gustavo Rivera<\/a>\u00a0(S.D. 33), local community organizer and teacher, Morgan Evers<\/a>, and various partners including City Meals on Wheels, hosted a produce giveaway ahead of Thanksgiving to to support local families in the Norwood section of The Bronx on Saturday, Nov. 22.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n They were joined by local Bronx Volunteers including some members of the Unity Democratic Club, including its president Marcelo Lopez, Danielle Herbert Guggenheim, teacher and former candidate for city council, representatives from Youth Impact Bronx and Guerinos against Graffitti*, among others.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Sakur Seagurs, founder and executive director of Theory 9 Inc., said the event was part of a continued effort to combat food insecurity and uplift local families during the holiday season.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Theory 9 had also partnered with CPRF Charity, Boost Mobile, AT&T, Council Member Pierina Sanchez (C.D. 14), and Common Pantry to provide hundreds of Bronx residents with fresh holiday meats at a separate giveaway in Kingsbridge, serving families of all ages, and furthering Theory 9\u2019s mission to build healthier, resilient communities through direct support and year-round humanitarian programs.<\/p>\n The holiday distribution was part of Theory 9\u2019s ongoing monthly food relief program which, according to Seagers, has already fed more than 3,300 families in 2025, alongside youth development, mentorship, and community wellness initiatives.<\/p>\n \u201cHolidays should be full of warmth and unity, not hardship,\u201d said Seagers, founder and executive director of Theory 9. \u201cWe believe every family deserves a joyful meal and to feel supported by the community around them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Brandon Montes of Norwood Community Library<\/a>\u00a0had set up an adjacent stand to the food produce stand from where he distributed free books. The mobile library makes free books available to residents at various locations in Norwood e.g. at the Keeper\u2019s House located at 3400 Reservoir Oval East, at NYC Health + Hospitals North Central Bronx, 3424 Kossuth Avenue, at Montefiore Mosholu Community Center, 3512 DeKalb Avenue, and at other pop-up locations. Sirio Guerino of Guerinos against Graffitti* was among the other volunteers on the day.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Evers, a former State committeewoman in A.D. 81, covering much of the northwest Bronx, as reported<\/a>, is now running as a Democratic candidate to become a State Assembly member next year in the same district. State committee members are unpaid elected party officials who serve two-year terms and must reside within the district they represent.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In The Bronx, a female and a male State committee member<\/a> represent voters in each assembly district, according to the Bronx Democratic Party. [This may have since changed given developments in other boroughs<\/a> to two people of any gender in each assembly district. We\u2019re checking and will confirm.]<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Their main responsibility is representing their district by attending and voting at their respective political party\u2019s state convention and annual meetings, according to the Party. A strong State committee member also serves as a liaison between the community, local elected officials, city government, and political candidates, according to the Party.<\/p>\n Jin Whang, who works with Evers, said in part of the event, \u201cThese things take a while but she got it together and I think with the timing, with the holidays next week, the need is great.\u201d Later, Evers said, \u2018Myself and the volunteers, we\u2019re so happy that we were able to hand out these meals and the fresh produce.\u201d She also thanked Theory 9 Inc. nonprofit, and Rivera\u2019s office for their collaboration.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re so happy that we were able to be here and help anyone who was in need,\u201d Evers added. \u201cWe were so happy to be here in Williamsbridge Oval. This park is so filled with life and people and it would just be wonderful to have more community events here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Of Montes, who Evers also thanked, she added, \u201cHe\u2019s such a great community organizer.\u201d Meanwhile, we also spoke to Montes, who said, \u201cI always have to have children\u2019s books out in the neighborhood and I\u2019m happy to keep going. This year, we\u2019ve made 7 years, and I\u2019m just going to keep pushing forward, giving out books in the neighborhood.\u201d He said he was also going to be distributing books the following day, Nov. 23, on East Gun Hill Road in Norwood in front of Anthony\u2019s Deli.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n He added, \u201cAnd if you know anyone who needs a little bit of community [spirit] and food, we\u2019ll be out at Bronx Museum of History [on Bainbridge Avenue in Norwood] on Wednesday, Nov. 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. with 100 servings of soup and books and prizes and surprises.\u201d For more background on Norwood Community Library, click here<\/a>. A documentarian was present on the say of the Oval giveaway, filming a documentary about the mobile library. It was later screened at the Bronx Documentary Center.<\/p>\n In addition to the City Meals on Wheels pre-packaged Thanksgiving meals distributed on the day, fruit, vegetables and donuts were also made available to residents. Stephen Bogart LeBow of the Bronx Basketball Hall of Fame was also present on the day. LeBow had spoken passionately about the Hall of Fame project during one of the recent hearings<\/a> on the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory<\/a> in the context of potentially using the space to inform local kids and youth about the The Bronx\u2019s long and storied basketball legacy.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n According to its founders, the Bronx Basketball Hall of Fame was created to acknowledge and celebrate the men and women, players, coaches, mentors and contributors who have had an impact on the history of Bronx basketball. \u201cTheir commitment, dedication to the community and to the\u00a0 game of basketball will be forever be revered,\u201d the founders said. <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Basketball Hall of Fame is also committed to youth development programs and initiatives that provide educational, cultural, and social opportunities for The Bronx community. For more information, visit their website here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, in the lead up to Thanksgiving, Rivera, who is chair of the State Senate health committee, and his team had also sponsored or distributed turkeys and produce at other events across the 33rd senate district including at Tracey Towers<\/a> in Bedford Park, Pelham Parkway Houses, Bean Morris Community Garden, Bronx Community Board 8, and at the Riverdale Neighborhood House.<\/p>\n From a legislative standpoint, the senator said he was proud that his bill, S.1804-A<\/a>, which requires insurance coverage for certain inhalers (one rescue and one maintenance) at no cost, has passed at State level and was recently signed into law by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis legislation is especially important for my constituents in The Bronx, the borough with the highest number<\/a>\u00a0of asthma<\/a> cases in the city,\u201d he said. According to the senator, the cost of asthma inhalers can be cost prohibitive for many, with the price of each life-saving device being as high as $640 a month.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Rivera said even with health insurance, individuals are subjected to significant expenses to access this life-saving medication, and without consistent access to inhalers, people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are more likely to get sick, be hospitalized, and die.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n According to the New York State Department of Health, he said more than 1.4 million adults in New York live with asthma, and New York City has one of the highest rates of hospitalizations and deaths due to asthma among children and young adults. The senator said it is especially prevalent in The Bronx<\/a>, due to indoor and outdoor air pollution, tobacco use, and barriers to quality and affordable healthcare coverage.<\/p>\n<\/a>LOCAL NONPROFIT THEORY 9 Inc.\u2019s founder and executive director, Sakur Seagurs, center; State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33), back row, left; former Democratic city council candidate and teacher Danielle Herbert Guggenheim, in burgundy baseball cap; activist and teacher Morgan Evers, in navy coat; Marcelo Lopez, president of the Unity Democratic Club, in beige sweater, are joined by Izaiah Zeet Barrow, Zaylah S. Barrow, 7, Brent Schneider and other volunteers are seen at a food produce giveaway held outside the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center in Norwood on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, ahead of Thanksgiving, hosted by Theory 9 Inc., Rivera and Evers.\u00a0 \u00a0
Photo by Miriam Qui\u00f1ones<\/p>\n<\/a>BRANDON MONTES OF Norwood Community Library, hands out free books during food produce giveaway event held outside the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center in Norwood, The Bronx on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, hosted by Theory 9 Inc., State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33) and community activist and teacher Morgan Evers.\u00a0
Photo by Miriam Qui\u00f1ones<\/p>\nBRANDON MONTES OF Norwood Community Library, hands out free books during food produce giveaway event held outside the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center in Norwood, The Bronx on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, hosted by Theory 9 Inc., State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33) and community activist and teacher Morgan Evers.\u00a0
Photo by Miriam Qui\u00f1ones<\/p>\n<\/a>STATE SEN. GUSTAVO (S.D. 33) and Stephen Bogart LeBow of the Bronx Basketball Hall of Fame are seen at a food produce giveaway held outside the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center in Norwood, The Bronx on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, which the senator sponsored along with nonprofit Theory 9 Inc, and local activist and teacher, Morgan Evers.\u00a0\u00a0
Photo by Miriam Qui\u00f1ones<\/p>\n