Jobless Woman Helps Feed Thousands in New York
2021-03-03
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1A New York woman who lost her job is using some of her free time to help feed thousands of people in her community.
2Sofia Moncayo leads a group of volunteers who give out food to those in need in a neighborhood in Queens.
3On a recent rainy day, a large crowd lined up outside the Mosaic West Queens Church to receive free food.
4The team members helping Moncayo were wet, cold and tired.
5Some lifted heavy food containers while others separated items and removed snow from the street.
6Moncayo led her team in prayer.
7"We're super grateful for these people here. In Jesus' name we pray," she said.
8The group around her then cheered and added: "Amen."
9"Now," Moncayo said, "let's get to work."
10The helpers receive no money, but said they were just happy to be there for someone else that day.
11Moncayo has led the food assistance program during the coronavirus pandemic.
12It launched in March and she took charge of the effort a month later.
13The program currently serves hundreds of people.
14Moncayo has faced her own struggles during the pandemic.
15She was let go from her job at a building company and remains unemployed.
16She also has a martial arts business with her husband that has suffered financial difficulties.
17But she has continued to raise money in the community and lead the effort to provide more than 1,000 boxes of food to families two times per week.
18"I think helping others has to do something to your brain chemically because if we had not been doing everything that we're doing, I think this would have been a much scarier time," Moncayo said.
19"Being able to dig in and help others, it really gives you perspective and helps you believe that you're going to be OK too," she added.
20Most of the food is donated by a neighborhood restaurant and other businesses and organizations.
21There has also been help from the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, which is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
22Moncayo, who was born in Colombia, said she was moved to volunteer by her Christian faith, as well as her own experiences with food insecurity while growing up in New York.
23She noted that she used to join her family in lines to pick up bread and cheese from food programs.
24Sometimes she said she felt ashamed.
25"One of the things that we wanted to make sure is that we don't look at people on the pantry line as people that need food, and really focus on, 'hey, these are our neighbors.'"
26Neighborhood resident Carol Sullivan lost her job as a stage manager when New York theaters closed because of the pandemic.
27At first, she was not sure about receiving food from a pantry, but she said Moncayo and the other volunteers made her feel welcome.
28"It has been a link to the community that I didn't have before. And it also saves a lot of anxiety over having to have money to pay for food over having to pay for the bills," Sullivan said.
29"If you have a dollar, you have to stretch it in so many places. Having them has made the choice less stressful."
30I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A New York woman who lost her job is using some of her free time to help feed thousands of people in her community. 2Sofia Moncayo leads a group of volunteers who give out food to those in need in a neighborhood in Queens. On a recent rainy day, a large crowd lined up outside the Mosaic West Queens Church to receive free food. 3The team members helping Moncayo were wet, cold and tired. Some lifted heavy food containers while others separated items and removed snow from the street. 4Moncayo led her team in prayer. "We're super grateful for these people here. In Jesus' name we pray," she said. The group around her then cheered and added: "Amen." 5"Now," Moncayo said, "let's get to work." 6The helpers receive no money, but said they were just happy to be there for someone else that day. 7Moncayo has led the food assistance program during the coronavirus pandemic. It launched in March and she took charge of the effort a month later. The program currently serves hundreds of people. 8Moncayo has faced her own struggles during the pandemic. She was let go from her job at a building company and remains unemployed. She also has a martial arts business with her husband that has suffered financial difficulties. 9But she has continued to raise money in the community and lead the effort to provide more than 1,000 boxes of food to families two times per week. 10"I think helping others has to do something to your brain chemically because if we had not been doing everything that we're doing, I think this would have been a much scarier time," Moncayo said. 11"Being able to dig in and help others, it really gives you perspective and helps you believe that you're going to be OK too," she added. 12Most of the food is donated by a neighborhood restaurant and other businesses and organizations. There has also been help from the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, which is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 13Moncayo, who was born in Colombia, said she was moved to volunteer by her Christian faith, as well as her own experiences with food insecurity while growing up in New York. She noted that she used to join her family in lines to pick up bread and cheese from food programs. Sometimes she said she felt ashamed. 14"One of the things that we wanted to make sure is that we don't look at people on the pantry line as people that need food, and really focus on, 'hey, these are our neighbors.'" 15Neighborhood resident Carol Sullivan lost her job as a stage manager when New York theaters closed because of the pandemic. At first, she was not sure about receiving food from a pantry, but she said Moncayo and the other volunteers made her feel welcome. 16"It has been a link to the community that I didn't have before. And it also saves a lot of anxiety over having to have money to pay for food over having to pay for the bills," Sullivan said. 17"If you have a dollar, you have to stretch it in so many places. Having them has made the choice less stressful." 18I'm Bryan Lynn. 19The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 20We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 21_______________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23grateful - adj. feeling or showing thanks 24martial arts - n. several forms of fighting and self-defense that are widely practiced as a sport 25perspective - n. a particular way of considering something 26ashamed - adj. feeling guilty of embarrassed about something 27pantry - n. a room or closet used for storage or from which food is brought to the table 28focus - v. pay attention to something 29stage - n. the part of a theater on which the acting takes place 30anxiety - n. an uncomfortable feeling or nervousness about something 31stress - n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc.