Agency-wide, Employee-Driven Food Drive Initiative to Provide 3,290 Meals to Families in Need Over the Holidays
MTA Partners with Food Bank for New York City, Feeding Westchester, Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County and Island Harvest
See Photos of Today’s Deliveries
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) employees, in coordination with officers from the MTA Police Department, delivered 3,947 pounds in donations from its employee-driven food drive campaign which included “Stuff an Electric Bus” to help provide food for those in need during the holiday season. The food drive included donations from New York City Transit subways and buses, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, MTA Bridges and Tunnels and MTA Police.
The Authority partnered with five local food banks: Food Bank for New York City, Feeding Westchester, Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County and Island Harvest. Donations were collected at more than 40 employee facilities throughout the MTA’s agencies.
NYC Transit’s electric bus #4961, which was also featured in this summer’s ‘Hometown Heroes Ticker Tape Parade,’ picked up donations from the Michael J. Quill Depot and drove them to Food Bank for New York City’s warehouse in Hunts Point. LIRR and Metro-North donations were picked up by MTA Police officers and delivered to the food banks in those territories.
At a time when food insecurity is increasing, thanks to the generosity of MTA employees, 3,290 meals will be served to families during the holidays.
“The MTA has kept the region moving since the pandemic began, and now our employees are taking it even further by helping their neighbors in need,” said MTA Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “I want to thank our partners at the MTA PD who helped make sure this food can get to those who need it most this holiday season.”
“At a time where so many New Yorkers are struggling, it’s amazing to see MTA employees who are helping ensure their neighbors can have a happy holiday season,” said Acting President at the MTA Bus Company and New York City Transit Senior Vice President of Buses Frank Annicaro. “Our colleagues at all 28 bus depots and central maintenance facilities across the city rose to the challenge, and I could not be prouder to be part of this team.”
“The MTA Police Department stands ready to help its neighbors struggling with hunger, and it is important that everyone knows about food insecurity, especially during the holiday season,” said MTAPD Chief of Operations Joseph McGrann. “I want to thank the officers who spent countless hours delivering food and toys to those who need it most this holiday season.”
“We are incredibly grateful for all of the amazing MTA employees who gathered resources and collected food to support our mission to fight hunger across the five boroughs this holiday season,” said Food Bank For New York City President and CEO Leslie Gordon. “At a time when 1.6 million New Yorkers are currently facing food insecurity, each and every gift makes a difference for our neighbors in need. We owe a debt of gratitude to our friends at the MTA, not only for the donations they made today, but for the work they’ve done on the frontlines to keep our city moving throughout the pandemic.”
MTA employees also donated thousands of toys to the MTA Police Explorer’s annual Sergeant Susan and Harry Atkinson Memorial Toy Drive. Susan Atkinson was a Long Island Rail Road Police Sergeant who started the toy drive in 1991. Atkinson and her husband Harry spent countless hours collecting toys for underprivileged children in the New York metropolitan area. Susan passed away in 1999, and now the MTA Law Enforcement Explorers continue the tradition in her honor.
The MTA’s All Generational Transportation Employee Group also collected 202 coats and 74 children’s coats, hats and sweaters to be donated to the Bowery Mission.