Senator Ramos Provides Over 600 Hot Meals to Queens Families, Partnership With Street Vendors Provides Economic Relief from COVID-19 Impact

East Elmhurst, NY — State Senator Jessica Ramos (D-Queens) today provided over 600 hot meals in partnership with Street Vendor Project (SVP) to residents in Queens. This is the second straight weekend of Senator Ramos hosting successful food giveaway events at her Senate district office for families and individuals struggling with hunger and food insecurity in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. Hot meals cooked by local street vendors were packed in totes bags for community members to readily pick up in a safe, socially distant manner. 

With most street vendors unable to earn an income and ineligible for unemployment benefits, these small business owners have been critically hurt and unable to provide for their own families. Senator Ramos further ensured the street vendors who provided meals this week and last week were able to receive economic relief by ensuring SVP’s parent organization, Urban Justice Center, could financially compensate the vendors for their work.

“Our street vendors have shown up for us 365 days a year, rain or shine, to make sure that we have access to inexpensive, freshly made food. Today, we’re not only able to provide nutritious hot meals to our communities in need, we’re also able to ensure these same small business owners get paid so they can support themselves through this crisis,” said State Senator Jessica Ramos. “We’re thankful to Street Vendor Project, the Urban Justice Center, the Hispanic Federation, and all our volunteers who have made this a successful event two weeks in a row.”

Mohamed Attia, Executive Director of  Street Vendor Project said, “Street Vendor Project is so proud to partner with State Senator Jessica Ramos in serving our communities in District 13 during this pandemic. As many families are struggling to put food on their tables, including the Muslim community who’s observing the holy month of Ramadan now, SVP’s member, Mohamed Saad, will provide Halal hot meal for folks in need. Thank you State Senator for the amazing effort in supporting the community, and Ramadan Mubarak for all.”

Mohamed Saad, a street vendor from Egypt who lives in Astoria said, “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to serve my community and neighbors in Queens, I’ve been out of work for two months and it’s too hard for me to be home not doing what I love to do every day, cooking Halal food. I hope we will get through this pandemic soon.”

Today’s hot meal giveaway follows yesterday’s fresh produce and dairy giveaway, in which Senator Ramos provided food for close to 800 families thanks to partnership with NYS farmers. 

About Street Vendor Project: The Street Vendor Project is a membership-based trade group with more than 2,000 active vendor members. It’s a part of the Urban Justice CEnter, an anti-poverty, non-profit legal services and advocacy organization based in New York City. In March, the Street Vendor Project launched the COVID-19 Emergency Fund for its more than 2,000 members. It has so far raised $128,558 and aims to provide $200 relief payments to as many of its members as possible.

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