As the world takes to the streets in the wake of George Floyd's death, the fight against coronavirus isn't over.
The flurry of problems as a result of COVID-19 hasn't dissipated. Businesses are still struggling to stay afloat and Brooklyn residents are still in need of food.
Black Lives Matter Brooklyn President Anthony Beckford hasn't forgotten the communities experiencing the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
On Saturday, June 6, Black Lives Matter Brooklyn collaborated with the Pakistani American Youth Society (PAYS), various community-based organizations and other elected officials to help out the East Flatbush community. They provided free hot meals, masks, water, and census materials.
In part with the 'Come Break Bread With Us' initiative, PAYS has fed thousands of Brooklynites and essential workers since the stay-at-home order was established. Anthony Beckford saw the need and reached out to the Brooklyn-based organization to assist him.
"I saw a need in the community and I put out a call to my family at PAYS and they answered the call," said Beckford, who's also a city council candidate for the 45th district. "We were able to provide 500 hot meals for individuals and families, while our partners at the Christopher Rose Community Empowerment Campaign, Flatbush Gardens Tenant Association, EFV and others, conducted Census Outreach, Gun Violence Awareness, Voter Registration, and mask distributions."
As the city moves forward in Phase 1 of reopening, elected officials like Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, and Senator Kevin Parker hopes this initiative will continue well after this pandemic.
East Flatbush is an area that has struggled with access to fresh food. As the 2020 Census deadline approaches (now pushed back to Oct 31), Beckford and other officials have stressed the importance of being counted as, as the Census is critical in providing access to adequate funding and representation in government.
"The community came out to take part and the smiles on their faces meant so much to us. We will continue our efforts and work harder to provide the needs of our communities since we seemed to have been forgotten by our local government," said Beckford.
