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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2020

CONTACT: pressoffice@doc.nyc.gov

DOC Hosts ‘Boldest Food Drive’ for Families Impacted by COVID-19

Members of Service step up to support communities in need

NEW YORK CITY- As a way to help families impacted by COVID-19, the New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is hosting a food drive which will continue through July 3, 2020. The food drive, which was conceived by DOC personnel as a way for the department’s fraternal organizations to help New Yorkers, began in early June, and offers department personnel a new way to give back to our community by volunteering to donate canned goods and other necessary items which will be delivered to non-profit organizations City Harvest

and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York.

“COVID-19 has caused pain and hardship to thousands of families in the five boroughs and amongst our own Correction family and we wanted to do our part in giving back,” said DOC Commissioner Cynthia Brann. “We are honored to be able to lend a hand in helping to fill food banks across New York City. I commend our dedicated members of service who even in the midst of personally dealing with the devastating impacts of this pandemic are stepping up and helping fellow New Yorkers.”

“We as an agency believe in the value of helping our brothers and sisters in need,” said DOC Chief of Department Hazel Jennings. “This crisis affects every single one of us in some way and we need to show each other compassion, as well as remain unified. We are excited that we had this wonderful opportunity to give back to residents of our city.”

Personnel have been donating the following items by placing them into brightly colored boxes that have been placed in convenient locations department wide:

Non-perishable canned goods such as soups, vegetables, beans, tuna

Dry goods such as rice, boxed macaroni and cheese, nuts, seeds, pasta

Canned fruits

Hot and cold breakfast cereal such as oatmeal and cream of wheat

Bottled beverages, powdered and evaporated milk

Baby food and pampers

Cleaning supplies and paper supplies

Personal hygiene products

Pet food

During the COVID-19 crisis, New York City is taking all of the necessary steps to ensure that every New Yorker has access to the food they need. The City has started the GetFood NYC Program which includes free food resources including food pantries and Grab and Go meals.

The DOC food drive was initiated by Captain Sardou Augustin and Officer Peggy Joseph-Saxon, who have each worked for the department for over 10 years. Augustin is the president of the DOC Haitian Society and Joseph-Saxon serves as the events coordinator for the organization. Along with members of their society they collaborated with all the department’s other fraternal organizations sharing one mission—to help New York City during these difficult times.

“New York City has been hit hard by COVID-19, leaving many families vulnerable,” said Captain Augustin. “We are happy that we were able to contribute basic necessities, that unfortunately many residents don’t have access to. We are all in this together.”

The food drive will conclude with DOC personnel packing the donations at the Eric M. Taylor Center (EMTC) on Rikers Island on July 7th and July 8th at 1pm. On July 10th employees from City Harvest will visit Rikers Island to pick up donations and on July 14th DOC personnel will travel to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New York to deliver these necessities.

DOC Fraternal Organizations and Unions

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) provides for the care and custody of people accused of crimes or convicted and sentenced to one year or less of jail time. The Department manages 11 facilities, 8 of which are located on Rikers Island. In addition, the Department operates two hospital wards (Bellevue and Elmhurst hospitals) and court facilities in each borough. Our dedicated workforce of both uniformed and non-uniformed staff members represent the city’s BOLDEST.