Every Tuesday, it has become commonplace to see a line of hundreds of people snaking around the United Methodist Church at the corner of 113th Street and 107th Avenue in Richmond Hill. The people in the crowd —young mothers with toddlers in tow, elderly residents with walkers and everyone in between — wait patiently until they get a chance to receive food, including eggs, rice and vegetables,from the church’s pantry.
More than 2,000 people have signed up to use the food pantry, which is manned by about 20 volunteers, since it was founded in 2010.
“We were looking at our community, and we wanted to be more effective so we started the food pantry,” said Lloyd Edwards, the pantry’s director.
The church’s pastor, the Rev. Moonsook Kim, added that members were inspired to create a pantry after a number of individuals “came knocking on our door” for help once the economy turned sour.
Now that the food pantry has grown successful, the church is looking for other ways to help its neighbors and has launched a drive to collect prom attire for teens who cannot afford the often expensive wear.
Residents who wish to help can drop off new, or lightly worn, gowns and tuxedos at the Queens Chronicle’s office at 62-33 Woodhaven Blvd. or at the church in Richmond Hill.
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