New York to serve free meals, targets 2M people during Ramadan

The New York City has announced its intention to feed more than two million New Yorkers in the month of Ramadan.

While disclosing this on Thursday April 23, 2020, the Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, stated that those who are unable to pay for food would benefit from the gesture.

“No New Yorker will go hungry. Your city will provide,” Blasio said.

In an attempt to reach its targets, NYC has decided to channel the food distributions through education buildings and community organizations.

More than 400,000 Halal meals would be distributed at 32 education buildings and 100,000 through community organizations.

“One of Ramadan’s most noble callings is to feed the hungry, to remember to be there for those in need. And that is now harder than ever now that people can’t go to their mosques,” said de Blasio at a Thursday news briefing.

He added that Jews would be served Kosher meals which is part of the already ongoing grab-and-go meals which have seen meals distributed to about 435 sites to housebound New Yorkers and via taxi, which the Mayor said has cost about $170 million.

According to the mayor, about 10 million meals would be provided this month, while 15 million more would be provided in May. He however did not mention the actual cost of the April and May meals.