The Authority provided over $106,900 in gift cards for more than 3,200 households to purchase holiday meals and worked with partners to provide over 9,200 turkeys and other holiday dishes for residents

Efforts focused on facilitating meals for households in need, including those impacted by gas service disruptions   

NEW YORK – The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) today announced a series of efforts to facilitate over 12,000 meals for residents in need ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, including the distribution of more than 3,200 gift cards to over 7,100 residents at 40 developments, totaling over $106,900. The gift cards, which had a value of $15 per authorized household member, were distributed at developments experiencing gas service disruptions, and could be used to purchase holiday meals. NYCHA also provided residents of the impacted developments with slow cookers and hot plates to assist with gas-free cooking throughout each outage. These efforts were supplemented by additional holiday meal distribution events, including the delivery of over 2,800 turkeys by the Public Housing Community Fund and its partners; distributions made possible by local elected officials; and holiday events held at 29 Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) sites in partnership with NYCHA’s PACT partners.  

“NYCHA's residents are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re happy to help facilitate meals for families in need during the holidays,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “As we reflect on what we’re grateful for this time of year, I would be remiss not to mention how appreciative we are of our partners in these holiday meal distribution efforts, as these contributions help enable residents to focus on spending quality time with their loved ones this Thanksgiving.”    

“The holiday season is a time for community, family, and celebration, and we are excited to play a part in making sure families across NYCHA have a truly special and abundant Thanksgiving,” said Public Housing Community Fund Executive Director Alex Zablocki. “We are grateful for our partners and donors for their generosity and look forward to working our way across the city with turkeys, fresh produce, and all the fixings needed to make their Thanksgiving tables bountiful and memorable.”  

“Thanksgiving is about looking out for your neighbors,” said U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres. “Our team was glad to be at Mitchel Houses handing out turkeys so Bronx families could have a full table and a good holiday. NYCHA residents deserve that same sense of community all year, and that’s why I’m pushing in Washington for the federal resources and respect that public housing families need.”  

“As the holiday season begins, it is crucial that we work together to ensure residents across our borough have the food and support they need. Our focus remains on connecting families with nutritious meals and essential resources so they can enter this time of year with dignity and stability,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “I want to thank the New York City Housing Authority, our partnering community organizations, and my colleagues in government for their partnership in making today’s event possible and ensuring our residents receive support during the season.”  

“As we enter this Thanksgiving season, food insecurity remains top of mind for so many families across our city,” said Deputy City Council Speaker Diana Ayala. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the New York City Housing Authority, as well as our many incredible community partners, to help bring a measure of holiday comfort to our residents. Through our collective efforts, we were able to provide 500 pork shoulders and 2,670 turkeys to NYCHA families in East Harlem and the South Bronx. Even as we confront significant challenges as a community, we also show up for one another. It is in that shared commitment that we ensure our most vulnerable neighbors are supported and able to gather with loved ones over a holiday meal — finding a moment of peace and celebration amid the uncertainty of these times. Wishing everyone a healthy, joyful, and hope-filled holiday season.”   

“We are pleased to partner with NYCHA and resident-owned food businesses to provide holiday meals to those in need,” said NYC Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice Sideya Sherman. “This season of giving reminds us of how powerful it is when public, private, and community partners come together to look out for one another and help nourish and support communities from within.”  

As part of this year’s efforts, NYCHA’s Office for Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES), with support from the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice (MOERJ), enlisted Cornel’s Catering Company, Inc., Cooking with Corey, Sabor Restaurant & Bakery, and Andy’s Daughter Catering — graduates of NYCHA’s Food Business Pathways program — to provide 1,350 holiday meals to residents of McKinley Houses, Butler Houses, and 1471 Watson Avenue in the Bronx. NYCHA also worked with Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, New York Community Pantry, Phipps Houses, the Hispanic Federation, Catholic Charities, and Positive Workforce to distribute 2,670 turkeys and 500 perniles to NYCHA residents of developments in the 8th City Council District.  

Several food distribution events were held for residents of Mitchel Houses in the Bronx, with support from the Mitchel Houses Resident Association, U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Catholic Charities, Rethink Food, Community Board 1, and Eastside House, including a Thanksgiving dinner, hot food pantry, and several bagged lunch distributions.  

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About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)      

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the largest public housing authority in North America, was created in 1934 to provide decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. NYCHA is home to 1 in 16* New Yorkers, providing affordable housing to 511,384 authorized residents through public housing and Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) programs as well as Section 8 housing. NYCHA has 177,565 apartments in 2,410 buildings across 335 conventional public housing and PACT developments. In addition, NYCHA connects residents to critical programs and services from external and internal partners, with a focus on economic opportunity, youth, seniors, and social services. With a housing stock that spans all five boroughs, NYCHA is a city within a city. 

*As per July, 2023 US Census Population Estimate