More than 2,000 families living in nine NYCHA developments across Brooklyn will be dishing up turkey on Thanksgiving thanks to a partnership between two housing development companies.
The Arker Companies and Omni New York donated 2,625 turkeys to NYCHA's Armstrong I, Armstrong II, Weeksville Gardens, Berry Street-South 9th Street, Marcy Avenue-Greene Avenue Site A, Marcy Avenue-Greene Avenue Site B, 572 Warren Street, Independence Towers and Williams Plaza over the weekend.
It is the second year the companies have teamed up to donate the turkeys.
Armstrong Houses Tenant Association President Stephen Davis said residents could now smile while sitting down to their Thanksgiving meal and he hoped the partnership between NYCHA and the companies could continue.
"As we enter the cold months of the winter, 8 months into this pandemic, people are continuing to struggle day after day, with people out of work and some finding it hard to put food on the table," he said. "These turkeys are an effort to give a little light to these NYCHA residents as we head into Thanksgiving."
Simon Bacchus of The Arker Companies said the company was honored to have the opportunity to do that again, specifically during a time of such hardship.
"Arker is excited and eager to continue our work as a partner with NYCHA and continue offering residents support and resources," he said.
Omni Executive Director of Development David Fleming said the team was grateful for the opportunity to provide families and households with a little joy and gift during the holiday and for Thanksgiving. "Looking forward, we hope to be able to continue this tradition for others in the years to come."
The Arker Companies and Omni New York and other partners were selected last year to repair, refurbish, and manage the nine NYCHA sites as part of the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program.
As part of the program, every unit in the buildings will get full kitchen, bathroom, window and floor repairs, as well as building-wide improvements, such as elevators, security, and heating system upgrades. Overall more than 6,300 residents will benefit from the program.
Last year, NYCHA chose Brooklyn Housing Preservation Experience LLC, a joint venture with the Arker Companies, Omni New York LLC, Dabar Development Partners, and Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation to lead the development, management, and social services plans for the Brooklyn PACT portfolio.
