Queens, NY - Assemblyman David I. Weprin collected food and toiletries to help furloughed federal employees with the help of the American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee and donated the items to the Morris Brown A.M. E. Church Helping Hand food pantry in Jamaica on Friday. Food Pantry program director Ruth Roseborough graciously opened the pantry outside of normal operating hours to accept the donations.

Weprin along with Ali Rashid and other members of the American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee were able to collect and prepare about 100 bags to support the furloughed federal workers affected by the government shutdown. After the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, 35 days, the nearly 800,000 federal workers affected by the shutdown have already missed two paychecks and evidence of their hardships is growing. Many have had to choose between paying their mortgage, paying for medical care, and paying for food. The donated items will be distributed at the church on Wednesday January 30^th.

The Morris Brown A.M.E Church Helping Hand has been operating in the Jamaica community since the mid 1990’s and offers food assistance through its food pantry and soup kitchen. The pantry serves nearly 400 people a week and accepts donations and volunteers.

The American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC) is a nationwide group dedicated to empowering the Pakistani American community and promoting better relations between the U.S. and Pakistan.

“Federal workers are providing important services that keep our government functional. If our own government won’t support its workers, we as a community must step up,” said Assemblyman David I. Weprin. “I hope that this small donation will be able to help those who are suffering under this callous shutdown.” 

“New York City is the world’s melting pot, where all cultures come together and coalesce. It gives us a grander perspective of life and more importantly what it means to be human,” said Ali Rashid. “We recognize our responsibility to be good neighbors to each other and that means offering our assistance without hesitation whenever necessary. The American Pakistani Community has stepped up to the plate to lend their support during a tumultuous time. It is something that we as New Yorkers should be immensely proud of.”