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| ASSEMBLYPERSON HELENE WEINSTEIN AND EVENT CO-CHAIR JOUSE PIERRE |
Brooklyn’s Diversified Communities Unite to Help Victims of Maria’s Wrath in Puerto Rico
By
Posted on October 2, 2017
In an unprecedented display of unity,
The Bridge Multi-Cultural Project,
1894
Flatbush Avenue, sponsored an emergency relief drive to assist the
beleaguered victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Over 200 people donated an
abundance of food, clothing, shoes, non-perishable items, first aid
kits, medical supplies,
feminine hygiene products
and much more during the five-hour donation drive.
The
Bridge MCP emergency drive was given an imprimatur by
City
Public Advocate Letitia James, Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, NYS
Assembly members Helene E. Weinstein & Rodneyse Bichotte
as well as
City
Council members
Jumaane D. Williams & Matthieu Eugene
.
Diversity on display as the Flatbush community pitched in to lend a hand to Hurricane Maria victims in Puerto Rico.
Co-sponsors
of the drive reflected the true diversity that illuminates the
neighborhoods in Brooklyn’s Flatbush district. Such prominent religious
organizations as the Rabbinical Council of America (RAA) – the Igud
HaRabbonim, the Interfaith Dialogue Project, the Haitian American
Caucus, the Yemeni
American Association
,
the American Council of Minority Women, the New York Rescue &
Response Team were among those groups that lent their sponsorship to the
hurricane drive.
In a voice reverberating
with palpable emotion,
Mark Meyer Appel
, the founder and CEO of The Bridge Multi-Cultural project introduced the co-chairs of the emergency hurricane drive;
Brooklyn district leader Josue Pierre
and Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik.
Rabbi
Mendy Mirocznik, the executive vice chairman of the Rabbinical Alliance
of America/Igud HaRabbonim – an organization with well over 800 member
rabbis representing communities all across the United States and Canada
addressed the gathering. “The mission of all of us in our respective
communities are to support each other in times of crisis. I am so proud
that our community has unified and is working hard to support those
victims who were adversely affected by this terrible tragedy,” declared
Rabbi Mirocznik.
Assemblymember
Helene Weinstein, third from left, was among the many Flatbush
lawmakers pitching in to help prepare care packages for the victims of
Hurricane Maria. Contributed photo.
Joining Rabbi Mirocznik was Rabbi Yaakov Klass
,
and other members of the presidium of Rabbinical Alliance of America.
Speaking from a vantage point of his impressive experience as a
community leader, Pierre told the assemblage how Brooklynites
from all walks of life, always band together and unify in times of
desperate need. “Today, we join our Muslim, Jewish and Christian
brothers and sisters in showing our love and deep concern for all those
adversely affected by Maria’s unforgiving wrath by providing them with
everything they will need to survive,” said Pierre. Mr. Abu
Khaliquzzaman, an esteemed and highly respected leader of Brooklyn’s
Muslim community, is the founder of the Interfaith Dialogue Project
events.
The humanitarian effort at The
Bridge. Mr. Khaliquzzaman focused his remarks on the treasured legacy of
Brooklynites always “stepping up to the plate” and showing compassion
for the needy. “
Mr. Mark Appel offered plaudits to the
remarkable work done
through the partnership with the New York Rescue and Response Team to
save lives in the aftermath of the string of hurricanes that wrought
disaster to Florida and the Caribbean.
Mr. Appel was quite generous with his words of high praise for
Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City’s
elected officials. He particularly took note of the fact with their rapid response to the devastation of these hurricanes
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