Grassroots Group Helps Keep LIC Fed Amid Coronavirus Spread

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — Long Island City stakeholders are banding together to set up an emergency food pantry and distribute meals to local families and seniors affected by the spread of the new coronavirus.

The new grassroots group, which adopted the name LIC Relief, formed at the start of the week to keep Long Island City residents fed amid hurdles like self-quarantines and public school closures, which are meant to limit COVID-19's spread but may also cut off food access.

LIC Relief is collecting nonperishable food items to deliver to residents stuck at home and is partnering with local restaurants to serve grab-and-go meals. Volunteers will donate any leftover food to local food pantries, social service organizations and senior centers.

"During this crazy season we're in, we believe the most effective solution is going to be local," New City Church Pastor Patrick Thompson, one of the group's co-founders, told Patch in a phone interview. "If neighbors can help neighbors, that's going to be the ultimate solution to this."

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The idea started with a phone call Friday.

Kelly Craig, the co-vice president of the PS/IS 78Q PTA, called Thompson to brainstorm what they could do to help the neighborhood, which she believed could use a helping hand to address hunger during the coronavirus crisis, according to Thompson's retelling.

The duo set up a meeting with other community stakeholders the following Monday, and LIC Relief was born.

Since then, the group has already raised $17,000 from more than 90 individual donors and the four developers behind the YourLIC coalition, which is matching the donations, according to Thompson. More than 80 people have signed up to volunteer.

The group has also enlisted local eateries to serve free grab-and-go meals outside their storefronts; LIC Relief is paying the businesses five dollars per meal to help cover costs.

Little Chef Little Cafe's Diana Manalang, who helped develop the initiative, already runs a meal prep program in her own time. She realized that format could be especially valuable for families and seniors who face limited food access as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"There’s going to a lot of people worrying about caring for their kids, caring for their parents, so we figured, how can we ease the burden the only way we know how?" Manalang told Patch. "All I know how to do is cook a lot of food at once, and hopefully that makes a difference and helps somebody.”

Manalang has already delivered meals to seniors in the Queensbridge Houses, as well as the nonprofits Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement and Hour Children, and is offering free family meals to-go at her 5-43 48th Ave. storefront.

Other local restaurants will come on board starting Monday.

"It takes a village.” Manalang said. "I can't just sit here and do nothing."

Click here to learn more about LIC Relief and how to help.