June 2020 - ciaooo!
ciaooo!

Month: June 2020

Despite launching just days before the mandated city shutdown, Saigon Social pivoted from a grand launch to partnering with local non-profits to feed frontline workers. This is part of a 3 part series on New Yorkers who have taken the initiative to feed New York City on their own.

The first time I saw Helen Nguyen, she was wearing a starched white double-breasted chef’s coat in a dive bar in the Lower East Side.

It was 2018 and I’d just started hosting trivia nights at the bar, Boy’s Don’t Cry. Every now and then in the midst of a beer-infused night shouting FRIENDS trivia into a mic, I would run into Helen as she was preparing for one of her weekend pop-up dinners in the kitchen. 

Every weekend, I’d see a festoon of Instagram posts featuring Helen’s Banh Mi burger on my feed. The pop-ups were her playing ground. A place for the 5-star classically trained chef to put aside her French entrees and instead cultivate a menu inspired by her favorite home-cooked dishes. 

The pop-up consisted of a rotating menu – Bun Cha Hanoi (Hanoi-Style Grilled Pork and Vermicelli), steaming bowls of Pho, and a tantalizing juice bomb that made its way across several New York food accounts known as the Banh Mi Burger. 

Helen made a certain amount of dishes each weekend, and when it sold out, it sold out. Whatever supplies she was able to cook up for the pop up was it. Almost as if the hypebeasts over at SUPREME released Vietnamese comfort food. Minus the douchiness.

Max, the owner of Boys Don’t Cry told me, “Yea, she flies in every weekend from Seattle to do this. She has a full-time job as a real estate agent there. She’s just hosting pop-ups here until her restaurant opens up.” 

If the word “Hustle” were personified into real life – this would be it. 

Fast forward to 2020.

Located on the corner of Orchard and Stanton (formerly Danny Bowien’s Chinese – Mexican Fusion Mission Cantina) in the Lower East Side sits Saigon Social. The restaurant is a modern take on traditional home-cooked Vietnamese food.

Helen preparing meals for Heart of Dinner

Inspired by Helen’s mom and her Vietnamese roots, the restaurant opened its doors this March, just days before the citywide shut down due to the Coronavirus. Instead of seats filled with new patrons, the restaurant took on a new life as a patron of the community. For the past 3 months, Helen and her team have donated over 10,000 meals to frontline workers and most recently, in partnership with the volunteer-run organization, Heart of Dinner, to feed Chinatown’s senior citizens.

This past week, they re-opened under New York City’s Phase Two of reopening, offering up a new summer menu and some outdoor seating.

The Art of the Hustle

The full story, I found out, was this. At the age of 33, Helen Nguyen decided to “move” from Seattle to study at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. For two years, Helen would take the red-eye from NYC on Friday nights after class to make it back to Seattle for the weekend, where she would continue to show listings to clients as a real estate agent. 

She was back Monday morning for class. “I was flying back and forth between the weekends. I still would have showings and I never even told my mom in the beginning!”  Born to a single mother, Helen and her mom worked multiple jobs to help support the family. Some of the strongest family bonding that took place, she reminisces, was through cooking Vietnamese food at home with her mom and younger sister. 

 “Going to culinary school was something I always wanted to do, but I wanted to continue to support my family until my younger sister was capable of being on her own…It was hard starting the Institute with 18 and 19-year-olds, but I was there every day, constantly seeing if I could do more with the teachers. I knew I wanted this.”

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Her dedication to cooking did not go unnoticed, and soon after graduating, one of her instructors suggested she reach out to a buddy of his who was hiring. “I had no idea what the restaurant was. It was just a name and a number scrawled on a note, and I called and showed up for training.”

The restaurant? Chef Daniel Boulud’s famed Restaurant, Daniel, one of the top-ranked restaurants in America. 

For those in the know, DANIEL is in that echelon of fine dining that puts chefs through meticulous training, perfecting multicourse dishes reserved for special events, the wealthy, and OG foodies. After all, don’t great things often go by one name? Prince. Madonna. But I digress.

 “Yea, I mean I worked really hard. The first year I was just cutting carrots and onions for the chefs, but I learned so much there.”

Helen worked at Daniel for 3 years before leaving to start her own restaurant, Saigon Social. After two years of construction, waiting on permits, and a gas line hiccup that pushed the open date months late, Saigon Social was set to open its doors in March 2020. Just days before the Coronavirus shutdown.

Helen and her team quickly pivoted and started partnering with local organizations, donating to local charities and frontline workers.

Small Businesses ARE the Community

I asked Helen how was she able to still donate meals to the community, when she herself, had just opened the restaurant in the middle of a pandemic?

As Helen sees it, “I just felt like we had to, there are a lot of other people who are worse off than us and I felt it’s our duty to give back”.

It’s a common theme I’ve noticed amongst several of the independently owned restaurant owners I’ve interviewed for this series. Despite dealing with: business disappearing overnight, food supply chain breaks, social distancing, decreased capacity, reduced staff, lack of PPP funds (which Helen was unable to apply for since they had not been open prior), rent and bills, bills, and oh boy, bills, much of the efforts towards the community were provided by small businesses like Helen’s.

According to a survey done by the James Beard Foundation, 80% of restaurants have laid off staff in New York City. Yet, small businesses like Helen’s continued to stay open and to do what they could to feed their neighbors. 

The pandemic has created a domino effect on the food supply chain, and with the House still twiddling their thumbs over the Coronavirus Stimulus plan, we’re about to encounter a tsunami of hunger. As unemployment continues to rise (The NYT estimates that another 22,000 more workers will be laid off this Fall), it is up to us to support the very restaurants like Helen’s, who have played such an integral part in keeping the community together.

How You Can Support

  • Order from Helen’s restaurant – Saigon Social, which is open now with a new Summer menu for pick up and delivery.
  • Follow, share on your stories and send directly to 5 friends you think would really like the restaurant
  • Donate to Heart of Dinner to continue feeding NYC’s elderly.
  • Tell us about your favorite restaurant so we can feature them!

More great stories from ciaooo!

Chau Mui

Chau is the original New York City stoop kid who cut her teeth hanging out in Union Square, ate soup dumplings in Chinatown and explored this great city by train, foot and everything in between.

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If you are a small business, freelancer, or someone who is looking to start a new career due to the Coronavirus, this article is for you.

We spoke to Kristina Ross, 27, a whiz kid known for growing businesses on social media (Instagram, specifically). She has worked hard to create a dedicated and widespread following for notable Instagram page @thefabstory, which she grew from 10,000 to 1 million followers in the span of ONE single year, garnering over 35,000 downloads for the app every month. She’s kind of a big deal…

As small businesses face obstacle after obstacle, and thousands are left unemployed, searching up new career paths, we spoke with Kristina about how social media can be used to transform one’s business and how it could ideally become your business. Keep reading to learn how she learned the ins- and- outs of digital media and content creation.

Where are you from, how old are you and where did you grow up? If you are comfortable sharing your ethnic background – feel free to dive into that.

Hello! I’m Kristina, I’m 27, half Filipino and I grew up in Scotland!

How did your story lead you to NYC?

A few years ago, I finally went freelance and saw it gave me this opportunity to travel on my own terms. Before then, I worked in retail and eventually a creative agency – no matter how exciting my day would be, I was always rooted back to an office in a specific location. When the day came that I realized I could go anywhere at any time, I finally decided to take a 3 month trip to New York City. 

Although I live in Scotland, I spend all my free time in NYC. My friends are in NYC, my favorite food is in NYC, everything I know and love is in that beautiful concrete jungle. I feel most at home when I’m on Canal and Orchard. 

I came to NY only knowing 2 people, a guy I met on a night out in London and the other guy was a photographer on Instagram. Within 3 days, I met what felt like everyone. For the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged somewhere. Every time I land in New York, I let out a big sigh of relief to be back. I’ve never felt like that before in my life. 

You’ve got a super fun job, most notably bringing @thefabstory to a million users. What is something most people don’t know about working in digital media?

So, a few years ago, I was working as a Producer and Copywriter in a creative agency. As time went by, I noticed fewer tv ads and more short videos for social media. I guess I always thought that to have a job in social media, you had to be an influencer. But when I started seeing companies and brands looking for ‘content creators’ – I realized that I didn’t need to be good at yoga to be good at social media. You just need to be creative, ahead of the social curve, and be willing to learn.

Everything you learn in advertising can be adapted to social media. It’s actually more exciting because you don’t just create campaigns and send them off to a client never to be seen again – you watch what you make go live and see people react. Comments, likes, shares – you see how people respond to what you’ve made in real-time.

It could be good, it could be bad… but the shaping experience of learning is much faster on social media because of the way an audience will let you know in real-time.

What was your journey like to work as a social media expert?

I didn’t step into the world of social media as an expert, that’s for sure. I never went to university, I did one year at art college and dropped out because I didn’t think I wanted it anymore. So I took a job in an airport Hugo Boss store where I would start my shift at 4 am and finish at 1 pm. I met people from all around the world, especially because most of the time I’d be working in that shop all by myself. I quickly learned the power of meeting people. The excitement of hearing what one person does and why another is traveling to Fiji for 3 days. I realized quickly that I wanted to work in a way that let me be one of those people in an airport. Traveling the world without a place they need to return to urgently. Next thing I knew, I was writing articles for free behind the cash desk. I started a print magazine, on a loan, which the owner of a creative agency happened to pick up on their flight to London before tracking me down on Facebook and asking me to work for them as a copywriter and Producer. 

After a few years of learning about advertising, I saw a job posting for a remote blog writer. I did an interview and asked them why they thought they needed a blog writer – they told me because they’re trying to reach more people. Then I looked at their Instagram and said maybe that’s how they should be reaching people. Long story short, I ended up turning their social audience of 10k to 1m in 18 months. It never hurts to ask for the job you actually want! 

Now that we are post-pandemic, many people may be out of work or switching careers. What are some actionable steps they can do to learn more (courses, online classes, sites, books)?

Damn, it’s so nice to see the word ‘post-pandemic’!

For anyone who wants to apply for a job in social media, practice running social media accounts first. Seriously. As far as I’m aware, there’s no bachelor’s degree in Instagram, so experience is key here.

Before I went freelance, I took over the social accounts of the companies I worked at and ran some of my own. Even if you don’t have a lot of followers, it’s a massive benefit to approach a company and show them an example of how YOU run a social media account. Saying, “I ran XYZ”, but not showing the posts or specifics is not enough.

The way you curate, repost, the language you use in captions, how creative you can be with stories, how you manage comments… this is everything I look at if I hire someone who wants to be on a social team. Screenshot your favorite posts, funny ways you reply to people, the assets you’re most proud of.

I’d suggest signing up for any FB groups or communities like Girlboss to learn from others in an industry you’re interested in. I learned a lot from Girlboss! 

I’d also suggest reading up on books like ‘Little Black Book’ by Otegha Uwagba which was a very inspiring toolkit for me when starting out. I LOVE the Planoly and Later newsletters too. And never underestimate the power of friendship – I was really fortunate to have friends at Meraki Concept Studio (who knew A LOT more about digital marketing than I did). They took me for coffee and gave me the tips and answers to my questions that I needed to get started. Very grateful for those girls!

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What is your goal with social media? 

When I started working in social media, my mum gave me one piece of advice. She asked that I only work with clients who are contributing and influencing people for good. Social media is a powerful thing and in the wrong hands can become toxic quickly. I’ve always worked with inclusive brands that focus on self-care and mental health in an honest way. I don’t think the world will ever stop needing that kind of influence. 

What is your best tip for the small business owner or creator who wants to transition and find new clients?

Know your analytics. Compare your numbers. Honestly assess what you’re posting.

Each week, take note of your most liked post, your most shared and if any posts received follows. Take note of your least likes, least shared too. Eventually, you’ll create a backlog of numbers (even if they’re not that high!). Compare them. Ask yourself why one week you had 20 likes on a post and the next week you had 0. Take note of the times you’re posting and what you’re posting about. What works? What doesn’t? There will be patterns. Be patient, keep learning. 

How can we get in touch with you?

Follow on IG is perfect @kristinamakescontent ! You can also read my full tips to Instagram growth HERE.

team ciaooo

ciaooo! is an NYC based editorial site, newsletter, and events company. We're the local's guide to conquering NYC. Follow us on Instagram @ciaooomag for the latest. Nice to see you here!

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In this series, we’ll be highlighting incredible New Yorkers who are capturing the Black Lives Matter protests. You can follow him on Instagram at @S_ebass.

We spoke to New Yorker Sebastian Melendez, who took his camera to the streets to highlight the Black Lives Matter protests across the city. Born and raised in NYC, the 30-year-old Puerto Rican went from shooting sneakers to capturing peaceful protests to arrests to the aftermath of the riots and looting across Soho. These are his words.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

First off, the basics. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m born and raised here in New York City. Grew up in Bushwick, Brooklyn from the early ’90s and later moved to Ridgewood, Queens till I was 20. Now, I reside in the Bronx. I just turned 30 on May 23, the “dirty 30” as they call it. My father was born and raised in Puerto Rico and my Mom is half Puerto Rican and a mix of French and British.

Young protestors at the Black Lives Matter

How did you get into photography?

I was never into photography as a kid, nor was I surrounded by it. The only exceptions were the times we’d go on family trips and my parents would bring those disposable Kodak film cameras you’d get at Rite-aid. I would’ve never thought to have a camera and taking photos was something I’d be passionate about. I was into TV shows, movies, sports, music. It never crossed my mind until I became interested in sneaker culture. I started taking pictures with an iPhone 4. Things just progressed from there.

You use New York City as your background for shooting. Overnight, you’ve covered the Coronavirus and protests. What has that transition been like for you to shoot?

Once all this “madness” started, I realized how much I took for granted the simple pleasure of just going out and about, capturing certain scenes of this city without having to worry about getting into situations.

I’ve had to become more mindful of what I’m trying to take a photo of. It can easily come off as “you’re just trying to make a personal gain” and not really care to help clear up the situation. As a photographer of all genres, you genuinely want to document the times. Years down the line you’ll look back and be grateful you caught those moments, this is history.

Protestors walk across the Brooklyn Bridge in support of Black Lives Matter
Protestors walk across the Brooklyn Bridge in support of Black Lives Matter

What was it like shooting in the protests?

Taking photos of these protests has been so telling. Despite the negative reports of looting and damaging of property, I’ve witnessed complete strangers watching out for one anothe , and not even caring about their skin color or ethnicity.

We’re all just humans at the end of the day. We are all one. Not this made-up borderline made of color and politics. I’m grateful I’ve been able to photograph these protests. The experiences have been surreal, to say the least. There have been moments where things will get so tense, you can feel it in the air. But then others will come along and convince a group to keep it moving and not give in to turning violent.

A young protestor at the Black Lives Matter Protestors in NYC
A young protestor at the Black Lives Matter Protestors in NYC

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I love how you capture scenes of everyday life in NYC. What is your shooting process like?

Living here in this city it’s like how can you not capture everyday moments? It’s one of the main reasons I love NYC. You always come across something to capture. It’s never a dull day out here. Generally, I try to be out and about as much as I can with my camera. There are days that I’ll be spontaneous and just head out with no place in mind. Then there are days where I’ll plan on going to a certain area of the city and walk around from there.

Most of the time, if I’m taking a photo of someone on the street, they have no idea. I prefer it that way because it keeps it genuine and not staged. If I were to be spotted taking their photo typically they’re pretty chill about it, maybe once in a long while someone might get thrown off or even a bit upset at that. 

Retailers in Soho clean up the streets after looting after the Black Lives Matter Protests.
Retailers in Soho clean up the streets after looting .

What is your goal with photography? Are you signed?

My goal with photography really is to just work for myself. I want to take on jobs that I would want to and not just because I need it. Also just to show people a unique perspective I guess, If I can inspire someone or make someone open up to a certain culture/lifestyle, then that’s a plus too. I do all of my work for myself and am not signed to anyone or any company. I’m definitely open to doing collaborations and campaigns with companies

A bicyclist rides in front of Coney Island's Cyclone.
A bicyclist rides in front of Coney Island’s Cyclone.

Best tip for the aspiring photographer?

For the aspiring photographer, I’d say to just experiment with whatever you feel looks dope to you. If you see someone with a certain style you like, don’t pressure yourself to be just like them. Put your own twist to it.

Don’t let social media make you feel like you aren’t making progress. It’s really easy now to fall into the trap of comparing your work with someone else. That is going to kill your drive and your own ideas and you won’t be happy with your results. Most importantly, have fun.

Where can people follow or reach out to you for collabs?

For the moment you can find me or reach out directly via Instagram @S_ebass.

team ciaooo

ciaooo! is an NYC based editorial site, newsletter, and events company. We're the local's guide to conquering NYC. Follow us on Instagram @ciaooomag for the latest. Nice to see you here!

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In light of the attacks on #GeorgeFloyd, we will be using our platform to highlight Black American history. You can visit our guide on how to support black lives HERE.

AMERICA’S FIRST SUBURB

Back in the day, there were no cul-de-sacs or cargo short wearing, backyard grilling, BBQ dads here. Until 1814, Brooklyn or “Breuckelen” as it was named by the Dutch was nothing but a piece of farmland (previously inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans).

It wasn’t until Robert Fulton (inventor of the Steamboat, also namesake behind both Fulton Streets), was able to offer up an easy commute for Manhattan’s elite wanting more space. Brooklyn Heights was built with a nearly identical grid system as the city and later established as America’s very first suburb. Bridge and tunnel crowd? More like carriage and steam..boat crowd? Ok, I tried.

Fulton Ferry in 1750 from the Brooklyn Side
Emmet New York History Collection, NYPL
Assembled by the New York physician Thomas Addis Emmet (1828-1919)

THE LITTLE SUBURB WHO FOUGHT AGAINST SLAVERY

Around 1834, Brooklyn made the transformation from farmland to an up and coming city center. Many abolitionists had moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn at this time after a series of riots, bringing with them a branch of the American Anti- Slavery Society.

Founding members of this organization, Lewis and Arthur Tappan became Brooklyn Heights residents not long after the formation of the society. The brothers would support the publication and spread of anti-slavery journals as well as fund black educational systems and associations that furthered race equality. 

  • Lewis Tappan
  • Arthur Tappan

Public Domain

Most notably, the Tappan’s were an integral part in the support of Africans during the Amistad trial. In 1839, a group of Africans had been illegally captured and sold in Cuba. While on the way to Spain, the captives revolted and gained control of the ship which made its way into New York waters. While the trial continued, the Tappan’s provided food, clothing, and other forms of aid to the Africans who were left to stay in the ship while their fate was decided by the courts. They ensured that the group was being represented by top of the line lawyers and would go on to pay for the captives to be returned to Africa after the court ruled in their favor.

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Some of the most inspiring figures through the fight against slavery were those who were able to reach vast audiences and inspire change through their words. James W.C. Pennington was an escaped slave himself who, at nineteen years old, ran from his captor and settled in Brooklyn. He was well educated and used his background of schooling and experiences with slavery to lead a wave of political activism against slavery. Pennington spoke at conferences and protests throughout Brooklyn and garnered a strong reputation for his ability to inspire others to take action.

James W.C. Pennington

Throughout the 1850s and 1860s, Brooklyn served as a hub for some of the country’s most prominent abolitionists. Many churches also became part of the Underground Railroad and altogether helped as many as 100,000 slaves flee the South before the Civil War. 

You can still visit some of the places that were a part of the Underground Railroad, like Plymouth Church, which came to be known as “Grand Central Depot” for slaves en route to Canada. It’s believed that almost every member of the church was involved with the Underground Railroad operation.

Plymouth Church in 1800's Downtown Brooklyn - "Grand Central Depot" for slaves en route to Canada as part of the Underground Railroad.
Plymouth Church
Via Public Domain

 Multiple pieces of evidence show that churchgoers would help hide slaves in their homes until they were able to escape towards Canada. Plymouth Church’s Reverend, Henry Ward Beecher, became a figurehead in the abolitionist movement for his impassioned sermons and intensive fundraising for anti-slavery causes. Other revolutionaries, who’ve graced these pews? Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, and Martin Luther King Jr. 

Prominent abolitionists could be found all over Brooklyn, from various backgrounds, religions, and social classes. Though many things separated them, their cause was all the same, and their actions equally important.

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN TODAY

Nowadays, Downtown Brooklyn has a somewhat corporate, too rich for my blood, married with kids, a total nightmare for a single, young person type of reputation. They’re all citi-biking in Domino Park, buddy.

But there’s so much beauty and history on every street. Arthur Miller, Truman Capote and Thomas Wolfe lived here. Activism was bred here. In a neighborhood just far enough from the hustle and bustle, and just tight-knit enough to have a sense of community, you’ll see a place that’s still fiercely tied to its roots with a new discovery on every corner. 

Learn more by visiting the Brooklyn Historical Society. You can see our guide to Brooklyn Heights HERE

Caroline Coyne

Caroline is a creative intern for ciaooo! based in Long Island. She's currently at school studying media and film.

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For the first time since March, NYC had its first day with 0 deaths from the Coronavirus. As the city bounces back, food pantries like La Jornada have stepped up to keep New Yorkers fed. This is part of a 3 part series on New Yorkers who have taken the initiative to feed New York City on their own.

It’s 8 AM and Pedro Rodriguez is setting up at the La Jornada Food Pantry in Flushing, Queens.

I can tell by the text that he sent me at 5 AM that he’s already been up for hours. Such would be the case when you’re in charge of feeding over 4,000+ New Yorkers. Every. Single. Day. 

Over the phone, he sounds like the type of grandpa who slips you a twenty every time you visit. His voice is a warm hug permeated with a deep, hoarse chuckle, and by the end of our 45-minute conversation, I feel like I’ve known him for years.

Pedro Rodriguez (R) with volunteers

Around Queens, he is revered for not only feeding the food insecure, elderly and disabled, but also building out English classes for immigrants and handing out backpacks for kids. According to the La Jornada Facebook page, he’s become somewhat of a local celebrity.

Throughout our call, he is interrupted twice by neighbors greeting him excitedly, as if he is the Latino “Don” of the James A Bland Housing Projects (where they post up every week to hand out packages filled with 3 days worth of rice, beans, milk, eggs for the neighborhood). 

“Our goal is that the next generation will not need a food pantry. How do we take them from HERE to THERE?”

For 12 years, Rodriguez and his team of volunteers have been on a mission to help Queens’ most impoverished. “One Saturday morning,” Rodriguez tells me, “I was walking in Bayside, on my way to church and I saw all these day laborers waiting on the corner for work. Something that day changed my life…I said to myself, why are we not helping them?“ He started handing out sandwiches, food, and coffee to them, and soon, became a resource.

Real quick recap on the Day Laborers here. There are between 8-10,000 day laborers in New York City. You’ve likely seen groups of mostly men waiting for work on street corners, parking lots, or home improvement shops in the morning. They’re waiting to be selected for work. Mostly for landscapers, moving companies, construction sites, and more where they can be paid under the table. Many are undocumented, and they are the most susceptible to being taken advantage of. Several reports cite workers being underpaid (or not at all), being in hazardous work conditions, without union rights and health benefits.

For months, Pedro and his family would speak to the laborers. That Thanksgiving, he invited them to dinner at the church. 

“We invited them over for Thanksgiving. That day, women showed up with children, and we realized it was the day laborers’ families. We had to help them too.”

La Jornada Food Pantry

The next day, Rodriguez and his family headed to Jetro, a restaurant supply food store and started buying bulk food to repack and give to the families. For over 5 years, the pantry fed 50 – 200 families before moving to Flushing where they took over a closed community center that was closed for 10 years.

“Imagine. A community center closed for 10 years. What does that mean for the people here? What have they missed out on?”

Besides providing day laborers and their families with food, the pantry has since expanded to include weekly runs delivering food to seniors and the handicapped with food trucks. Six days a week, they are serving food out of the community center.

Since the Pandemic, however, the phones have been ringing off the hook. Queens has been one of the hardest hit. Within the first few weeks of the outbreak, there were over 7,000 cases within a seven-square-mile radius, and Elmhurst Hospital (only a 10 minute drive away) was considered the “epicenter of the epicenter”. 

Queens, considered to be the most diverse city in the world, is one of the most densely populated ethnic enclaves, with several multi-generation families living within the same household. 

Pantry donations used to be done through appointments following a strict schedule. Now, they’ve grown from feeding 1000 people a week to over 4000 -5000 families per week.

Some days over 500 people are turned away. 

“Hunger is not a problem. Poverty is a problem. Hunger is a symptom of poverty. And in the next few months, they’re only going to get worse“

The line for food, Pedro fears, is only going to get longer as the aftereffects of the virus continue.  Since April 2020, the unemployment rate jumped from 4.1% to 14.5% with over 1.8 million jobs lost.  (Editor’s Note: As of publishing today, the number has dropped to 13% though experts believe it will still take long to recover from).

The bulk of the recipients of this food pantry are undocumented, day laborers, or gig workers from the food industry who lost their jobs in the pandemic. Disproportionately black and brown.

Within the next few months, as more jobs begin to shut down, the faces of hunger will be your neighborhood bartender who can’t pay rent, the freelance DJ with 20k followers, or the journalist who got let go from Buzzfeed. 

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For several of these New Yorkers, they are unable to apply for benefits, and community pantries like La Jornada will be the main source of food for these families. According to the FoodBank of NYC, more than 1.2 million New York City residents or 14.4 percent of all New Yorkers are food insecure. 

Last year, the city’s entire budget was $60 million. Earlier this year, in response to the Coronavirus, Mayor De Blasio pushed it up to $180 million dollars. “We are going to have millions of people waiting online for food”. Pedro stated. “I really believe that we will be needing to feed over 1 million families, it’s $180 a family”.

“How long can you feed a family on $180? 3 weeks, a month?”  

For the first time since March, NYC had its first day with less than 0 deaths from the Coronavirus. At its peak, NYC was seeing over 11,000 deaths a day, and where the city was dying before, we are now in the early stages of a hunger pang that could slowly decimate hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. 

As New York City seems to be starving, one integral question. How long can volunteers like Pedro feed these communities? The government is simply not doing enough. 

I ask Pedro what is something he would want people to take away from the article besides donating. His voice cracks as he tells me. “Just let them know that the volunteers are doing hard work here. They are all young people coming every single day to help. People say the young are no good, but they’re here with me. Every. Single. Day.”

To Help:

Donate via GoFundMe (This was created earlier this year to help pay their rent but the funds will go towards food distribution) Or via Paypal

You can connect Pedro or us with any larger food distributors or suppliers who are willing to donate food en masse – pedrolajornada@gmail.com or call 917-880-5693.

You can volunteer your time as well by visiting La Jornada on Facebook and the site.

You can share our story across social and the NBC news report HERE.

Chau Mui

Chau is the original New York City stoop kid who cut her teeth hanging out in Union Square, ate soup dumplings in Chinatown and explored this great city by train, foot and everything in between.

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