Goya Foods provides lifeline to East Harlem church with 12,000 pounds of food

EAST HARLEM, N.Y. (PIX11) -- An East Harlem church has a weekly food distribution and this Wednesday they are getting a huge boost.  

Rafael Toro from Goya Foods says during tough times they are honored to give 12,000 pounds, in honor of the Puerto Rican Day Parade.  

Leaders at St. Cecilia’s Church in East Harlem say it comes at a perfect time and they need continued support from their community to keep helping families.

Food insecurity is at an all-time high and St. Cecilia struggles to keep up with the need as pantry lines have doubled recently. So this donation is a lifeline.

In recent weeks, hundreds more people come to St. Cecilia’s church to rely on this weekly food distribution, every Wednesday. Many can’t afford to go to the grocery store. Dozens of volunteers help give out bags packed to the rim with delicious foods. Inside each bag there’s hope. 

Goya has already donated millions of pounds of food each year to organizations worldwide and continues to support over 300 organizations.

The message is simple says Toro. “Whenever you have an opportunity to do something to help you should if you don’t you are just wasting your time Goya feels that way,” says Toro.