A community coffers offering free meals to needy people in Queens during the COVID-19 pandemic has been vandalized.
The large refrigerator was erected in front of Jessica Ramos’ district office in East Elmhurst in October and was dozens of volunteers staffed to provide free meals to the poor.
But when The Post visited on Saturday morning, there were food containers and spilled rice on the ground, and the doors of the fridge and the electric grill at the back were ‘destroyed’, according to Ramos, who called it ‘an act of hatred’. ”
“It was really devastating to hear that someone was going to do this to a real lifeline in our community,” Ramos told The Post. “At the height of the pandemic, we were at the center. Most of our neighbors here, specifically in this block and in this neighborhood, have received no economic stimulus and do not qualify for unemployment insurance. ”
Ramos said her office is trying to collect video footage to see what happened. So far, no contact has been made with NYPD, she said.
The refrigerator is filled by volunteers with meals, fruits and vegetables donated by local businesses throughout the day, she said, adding that “hundreds of people” use the refrigerator to feed their families.
Ramos said she is appealing to the community for donations so the food can continue. “I am all grateful for the outpouring of support and donations we have received to replace the fridge and keep it going for a few more weeks,” she said.
“So many of our neighbors have already reached out,” she said. ‘We’re going to replace the fridge, and we’ll continue to keep it stocked. No one is going to mess with our neighbors. ”