Photos: Facebook
Hunger Free America, a nationwide direct service and advocacy nonprofit organization headquartered in New York City, has organized a weekend of service and action to honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy as an anti-poverty activist. Hunger Free America’s annual “MLK Serve-A-Thon” will deploy volunteers to a variety of nonprofit organizations to help people struggling with food insecurity. Local organizations that will be hosting volunteers include Repair the World and JCC in Manhattan.
On Sunday, January 14th, NY Attorney General Letitia James and NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams will join Hunger Free America CEO Joel Berg, Repair the World President & CEO Cindy Greenberg, and volunteers who will build a cooking station with lockable cabinets to allow local migrants supported by Bushwick City Farm more comfort and security as they cook their meals. Other volunteers will help tidy and beautify the farm space.
On Monday, January 15th, Hunger Free America will also host a virtual panel discussion highlighting the three core tenets of Dr. King’s movement: the elimination of hunger & poverty, the advancement of civil & human rights, and a commitment to peace & nonviolence. The panel will feature: the Rev. Kelly Brown Douglas, Ph. D., Interim President of Episcopal Divinity School; Jondhi Harrell, Founder and Exec. Dir. of TCRC Community Healing Center in Philadelphia; Dennis G. Serrette, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer of the National Urban League; and Jonathan Eig, author of the acclaimed biography King, A Life.
Why: For more than 15 years, Hunger Free America has honored Dr. King’s legacy with our annual MLK Serve-A-Thon and mobilized thousands of volunteers to help advance food security in our communities. According to HFA’s groundbreaking research, over 38 million Americans do not always have enough to eat, and between 2020 and 2022, more than 1 in 7 children lived in food insecure households. In New York City, 1 in 5 children lived in food insecure households.
Visuals: There will be community service events throughout NYC with volunteers helping build an outdoor cooking station for migrants and packing hygiene kits for asylum seekers. See details below for dates, times, and locations.
Also on Monday, HFA will be hosting a virtual group data verification event for the Hunger Hotline database.
Schedule of Events:
Sunday, Jan. 14:
10:30 am – 12 pm Bushwick City Farm 354 Stockton St, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Activity: Volunteers will build a cooking station with lockable cabinets to allow local migrants supported by Bushwick City Farm more comfort and security as they cook their meals. Other volunteers will help tidy and beautify the farm space.
Attendees: (1) NY Attorney General Letitia James (2) NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams (3) Repair the World President & CEO Cindy Greenberg (4) Hunger Free America CEO Joel Berg
Monday, Jan. 15:
9:30 am – 11 am Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan 334 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10023
Activity: Volunteers will be packaging hygiene kits for St. Paul and St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church’s weekly resource fair for asylum seekers. Hunger Free America CEO Joel Berg will also participate.
Virtual Event:
Monday, Jan. 15:
11:30 am – 1 pm HFA Virtual Data Verification event
Meeting ID: 839 9627 8823
Passcode: 205821
2 pm – 3 pm Panel: Understanding MLK’s Full Legacy
Link to Register & Join
Special Guests: (1) Rev. Kelly Brown Douglas, Ph. D., Interim President of Episcopal Divinity School
(2) Jondhi Harrell, Founder and Exec. Dir. of TCRC Community Healing Center in Philadelphia
(3) Jonathan Eig, author of the acclaimed biographies King, A Life and Ali: A Life
(4) Dennis G. Serrette, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer of the National Urban League
(5) Joel Berg, a long-time social justice activist and author who is CEO of Hunger Free America.
About Hunger Free America:
Hunger Free America is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a bold, effective movement to end domestic hunger and ensure that all Americans have sufficient access to nutritious food.
Partner Organizations
Repair the World:
Repair the World mobilizes Jews and their communities to take action to pursue a just world, igniting a lifelong commitment to service. In 2009, Repair the World began elevating meaningful service as a defining element of Jewish life by engaging Jewish young adults in service and learning to meet pressing local needs. Today, inspired by our values, we activate a national service movement, mobilizing partners and tens of thousands of Jewish young adults and their communities to serve alongside our neighbors.
Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan:
Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan is a vibrant community and cultural center in NYC, fostering connection, wellness, and cultural enrichment. Rooted in Jewish values, it offers diverse programs, events, and services for education, arts, fitness, and social justice, welcoming individuals and families of all backgrounds.
