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<\/a>ASSEMBLYMAN GEORGE ALVAREZ (A.D. 78) and City Councilman Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15) distribute turkeys during a Thanksgiving giveaway hosted by the elected officials and partners held on Hoffman Street in front of the side entrance to the councilman\u2019s office located on 573 East Fordham Road on the border of Fordham Manor and Belmont on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. \u00a0\u00a0Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n
Assemblyman George Alvarez (A.D. 78) and City Councilman Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15) joined ICNA Relief and other sponsors and volunteers in the Belmont section of The Bronx on Tuesday, Nov. 25, to distribute turkeys and food produce to a very long line of constituents ahead of Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n
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The long lines stretched all the way down East Fordham Road from Hoffman Street past a local gas station to Hughes Avenue, and included young parents, one 82-year-old woman, and a middle-aged man who said he had just been discharged from hospital. Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) Chair Karla Cabrera Carrera and CB7 board member, Monjur Chowdhury, were also seen on the day helping out, as were student volunteers from Fordham University, who had also set up their own hot beverage stand and were enthusiastically smiling and milling around offering drinks to attendees.<\/p>\n
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Other sponsors of the event included Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia (A.D. 86), Fordham Road NYC Business Improvement District (BID), Maddd Equities<\/a>, Union Community Health Center<\/a> (UCHC<\/a>), NY Common Pantry, United Bodegas of America<\/a>, Hispanic Federation<\/a>, City Meals of Wheels,<\/a> Good Neighbor<\/a>, Catholic Charities<\/a>, ICNA Relief,<\/a> VIP Community Services<\/a>, Fordham, I\u2019m Community, Spreading Love, the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center, Belmont Business Improvement District, and Liberty Coca Cola Beverages. Cabrera thanked the organizers and said the event was necessary to support local residents.<\/p>\n Norwood News spoke to some of those waiting in line about their experiences of food insecurity<\/a>\u00a0during the recent government shutdown<\/a>, and asked them how important events like the turkey giveaway were in terms of meeting the basic needs of Bronx residents. \u201cIt was important,\u201d one 82-year-old woman told us. \u201cTimes are hard \u2013 only get your pension once a month. Once it\u2019s gone, I have to make it until the next month so if there\u2019s something that I can get that will help me, that\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Asked if her pension had been delayed due to the shutdown, the woman said it wasn\u2019t. We asked if she was finding it difficult to stand in line, given her age. She replied, \u201cIt is hard to stand but, you know, God is good. He\u2019ll let me stand and let me get this turkey and feed my family and everyone can get together again because lately, it\u2019s been one is here, and one is there, so at Thanksgiving, we all get together and thank God for being alive and everything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Asked if she felt government officials reacted adequately in terms of meeting the needs of residents amid the recent impact to SNAP benefits and so on, she said, \u201cIn my neighborhood, they have.\u201d Asked who her elected representatives are, the elderly woman said, \u201cI couldn\u2019t tell you but I know I\u2019m in the 87th District.\u201d Assembly District 87 is represented by Assemblywoman Karines Reyes.<\/p>\n The senior continued, \u201cAnd I know Vanessa (Gibson). I know her name but so far, everything is good.\u201d Laughing, she added, \u201cI\u2019m not an IT person but I can see something on the Facebook to come and get a turkey today, so that\u2019s how I got that information, online.\u201d She said with all the people waiting, she hoped there would be a turkey left for her by the time she got to the top of the line.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Another younger woman standing in line said she had been personally impacted by the shutdown. \u201cI was getting food stamps at first,\u201d she said. \u201cIt took me a while to get accepted again. So now, me and my mom are trying to go to pantries and to all the giveaways. We\u2019re trying to take advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Asked if it had been easy to obtain information about where to obtain food in recent weeks, the woman said, \u201cLuckily yes, because the schools were providing information as well.\u201d Referring to her daughter, who was with her in the line, the young mom said, \u201cThis is her first year attending school. She\u2019s in Pre-K.\u201d Asked if she was looking forward to Thanksgiving, she said she was.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n A 66-year-old man, Brian Williams, who was also in line told us he had just had open-heart surgery. [Norwood News tried to see if we could find a box or something for him to sit on, similar to the 82-year-old woman, but nothing was really available.] When we told him he looked great, the man said, \u201cThat\u2019s what people say! They say, \u2018There\u2019s nothing wrong with him!\u2019 I had to rush over here. They should have a spot for the elderly and the disabled.\u201d<\/p>\n He lamented the long lines, saying he had already talked to the organizers to see if he could skip ahead. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d the man said. \u201cIt\u2019s ok. I know how it is.\u201d Norwood News also spoke to one of the people managing the line who said they couldn\u2019t make exceptions as everyone would come with different reasons for skipping ahead and it would be impossible to manage the situation.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The man in line continued, \u201cI\u2019m going home back to my moldy apartment. That\u2019s why I was in the hospital \u2013 black mold everywhere. I\u2019m on Housing Connect [NYC Department of Housing, Preservation & Development (HPD)\u2019s online housing lottery platform]. Brand new building they\u2019re building up but sadly, I didn\u2019t qualify for it. Once they saw my ID card, it\u2019s a wrap. There\u2019s no affordable housing. It\u2019s all a scam, Miss, I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Norwood News acknowledged and agreed that indeed<\/a>,\u00a0some<\/a> of the recent<\/a> \u201caffordable<\/a>\u201d housing lotteries<\/a> advertised<\/a> by HPD were very<\/a>\u00a0far<\/a> from affordable<\/a>. We mentioned a newly passed law<\/a> sponsored by Councilman Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11) which aims to assist applicants with the housing lottery process by aiding with paperwork through intermediaries like West Bronx Housing.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cEach apartment I\u2019ve had\u2026.I\u2019ve had three apartments\u2026.mold, ceiling collapsing and all that,\u201d the man continued, seemingly unimpressed with the news. \u201cI can\u2019t get no help and I know why,\u201d he said. We asked why, and he laughed and replied wryly, \u201cI spend too much time in the tanning booth,\u201d [the implication being, we understood, that it was because of the color of his skin.] He added, \u201cAnybody that\u2019s on that phone, they\u2019re like, \u2018Look at this guy.’\u201d We asked if he wanted to share his phone number with us to follow up and he said he had already been on the news.<\/p>\n \u201cI have roaches in my freezer,\u201d the man said. He then added, \u201cThey\u2019re so beautiful\u201d in reference to Feliz and his female colleague who he said had helped him find a new apartment through Housing Connect, but that it was that same apartment that had the black mold that sent him into hospital.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI was in the hospital for six days,\u201d he said. \u201cI have a heart condition. I got a defribillator, all that.\u201d Seemingly in reference to city officials\/city government, the man then added, \u201cAll they concentrate on is Manhattan. I spent my first 30 years in Queens, born and raised and 36 years here.\u201d In reference to the Mets attire he was wearing, we mentioned that there were quite a few Mets fans in The Bronx, despite the omnipresence of The Yankees.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOh Yankee fans don\u2019t like Mets fans; they don\u2019t like me,\u201d he said laughing and implying he did not receive the help he needed when he was ill. \u201cThey found me dead on the D train and I had my Mets uniform on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Later, we spoke to Amanda Caputo, assistant director for community affairs at Fordham University. \u201cSo, we are here today\u2026 giving out some apple cider to the community,\u201d she said. \u201cWe also donated 100 pork [inaudible]. We really believe, as an office, that resource sharing is so important and being able to provide and support the community when they need it most.\u201d<\/p>\n She added, \u201cOf course as a result of the cuts to SNAP, we\u2019ve seen really the need both among our student body and faculty, and among our community, so in that way, we really believe our greatest asset is our student body and the resources that we have internally at Fordham. That being said, we have a responsibility to mobilize those resources that we have in order to support our local community. We\u2019re all neighbors at the end of the day and we all want to support each other. We\u2019re so happy to be here to support our community in any way that we can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Asked about the student volunteers, Caputo said, \u201cWe have a couple of student volunteers. Some are handing out produce and some are giving out apple cider, and some are at the other tables helping with line management and stuff like that. They\u2019re passionate and dedicated. They always come out when they see their fellow neighbors in need so they\u2019re a wonderful set of students. They\u2019re great.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Speaking in Spanish, two elderly female attendees, Marta Rodriguez and Sonia LeBron, said of the event, \u201cThis Thanksgiving event is very appreciated by the community and is all that was needed.\u201d They referenced both Feliz and Alvarez saying they received help when they needed it.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThey gave us all for the meal; it\u2019s very important because things are very expensive and now, there\u2019s less with the people who.. (with the impact of the government shutdown),\u201d one of the women added. \u201cWell, I don\u2019t receive food stamps because I\u2019ve worked in this country, but now that they are arranging this (giveaway), it helps a lot with my meal and with that of my family who cannot come and collect the items.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the women then thanked \u201cGod, the senator, the assemblyman, the councilman.\u201d She added, \u201cVery good, this young man, who is working hard for the people, and the assemblyman also. Thank you to everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Later, Feliz said the organizers of the giveaway provided around 800 turkeys on the day, and added that overall in recent weeks, his office, in conjunction with other partners and elected officials, distributed over 2,000 turkeys to around 2,000 families. \u201cEvery part of the district, Fordham Road, East Tremont, West Farms,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s been fun.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Asked if more food was being distributed this year, compared to previous years because of the impact of the recent shutdown, he said, \u201cYes, absolutely! This year, I would say, the lines are much longer. We\u2019re always privileged to be doing this every single year. This Bronx community is vibrant but it\u2019s also a very needy community so we make sure to meet people where they\u2019re at, and during Thanksgiving season, we make sure we provide turkeys, food produce, fresh fruits and vegetables, making sure our constituents have everything they need for a happy Thanksgiving.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Asked if he got a lot of calls to his office amid the shutdown, Feliz said he had, particularly about how it would affect residents\u2019 food stamps. \u201cIt was a big concern for tenants in The Bronx,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We also asked the councilman, who represents the Bronx neighborhoods of Fordham Heights, West Farms, Tremont, Mt. Hope, Belmont, University Heights (North)-Fordham, Bedford Park, Soundview-Bruckner-Bronx River, Pelham Parkway-Van Nest, Allerton, Bronx Park, Morrisania, Claremont Village-Claremont (East), Crotona Park East, Crotona Park, Mount Eden-Claremont (West), and Claremont Park, for his thoughts on his recent reelection and the election generally.<\/p>\n As reported, Feliz had lent his support, along with the majority of the Bronx Democratic Party<\/a>, to Mayor-elected Zohran Mamdani before the general election.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFirst and foremost, we won our reelection with over 85% of the vote,\u201d the councilman said. \u201cWe had a record turnout here in The Bronx and we\u2019re so privileged to have earned the trust and support of voters. It\u2019s been four good years, bringing results, bringing funding for our parks, for our schools and also meeting people where they\u2019re at, and resolving their issues, so it\u2019s a privilege to earn their support. We\u2019re very excited to work with our mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on the issues that Bronxites care about, housing, public safety, education, and economic opportunity for the people of The Bronx.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a>VOLUNTEERS AND TEAM members with City Council Member Oswald Feliz help with the distribution of turkeys and food produce at a Thanksgiving giveaway held\u00a0
Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n<\/a>BAGS OF CANNED food are seen in plastic bags ready to be distributed to residents of Council District 15 and the surrounding area during a Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway sponsored by various elected officials including Councilman Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15) and Assemblyman George Alvarez (A.D. 78) on Hoffman Street and East Fordham Road in the Belmont section of The Bronx on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.\u00a0
Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n<\/a>ASSEMBLYMAN GEORGE ALVAREZ (A.D. 78) and City Councilman Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15) distribute turkeys during a Thanksgiving giveaway hosted by the elected officials and partners held on Hoffman Street in front of the side entrance to the councilman\u2019s office located on 573 East Fordham Road on the border of Fordham Manor and Belmont on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. \u00a0\u00a0
Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n<\/a>ICNA RELIEF WAS one of the co-sponsors of a Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway sponsored by various elected officials including Councilman Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15) and Assemblyman George Alvarez (A.D. 78) on Hoffman Street and East Fordham Road in the Belmont section of The Bronx on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.\u00a0
Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n<\/a>BRONX COMMUNITY BOARD 7 District Manager Karla Cabrera Carrera is seen helping distribute food and turkeys during a Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway sponsored by various elected officials including Councilman Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15) and Assemblyman George Alvarez (A.D. 78) on Hoffman Street and East Fordham Road in the Belmont section of The Bronx on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.\u00a0
Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n<\/a>STUDENT VOLUNTEERS FROM Fordham University man a hot beverage stand at a Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway sponsored by various elected officials including Councilman Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15) and Assemblyman George Alvarez (A.D. 78) on Hoffman Street and East Fordham Road in the Belmont section of The Bronx on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.\u00a0
Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n<\/a>ASSEMBLYMAN GEORGE ALVAREZ (A.D. 78) and City Councilman Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15) distribute turkeys during a Thanksgiving giveaway hosted by the elected officials and partners held on Hoffman Street in front of the side entrance to the councilman\u2019s office located on 573 East Fordham Road on the border of Fordham Manor and Belmont on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. \u00a0\u00a0
Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n