Sierra Ryan
News@queensledger.com
Ernestine Smith runs a food pantry along with a group of volunteers in Woodside Queens. Every
Friday Smith and volunteers would stand outside with a table packing bags for those in need.
Whether that would be hot food, cold food, socks, underwear or Easter baskets for the kids Smith
is dedicated to helping those that need it.
Smith started out as a member of an organization called the National Hook-Up of Black Women
where she noticed there was an increase in homelessness in the area so she decided to take
action. “I was scrolling through social media and a blessing bag had popped up on my timeline,
people were making blessing bags in other states and I thought that was a great idea” Smith says
“I brought it to the lady and because it involved going out and dealing with homelessness and
mental health they were kinda against it so I started to do it on my own. I started purchasing
things and making bags on my own and handing them out of my car.”
Smith was then able to expand and bring her blessing bags to different boroughs until the
pandemic hit. After that was over she went back to Harlem due to the high level of
homelessness. Her son Mariam convinced her to start doing a food pantry in Woodside since
that’s where she has lived for 39 years. Smith “Then my son said to me a year and a half ago
mom you serve every other community but you lived in woodside but you don’t know the
residents so I think it would be dope if you bought a food pantry here and when I got back from
Africa I started a food pantry here.”
Smith was inspired by her mother. Growing up in South Jamaica Queens in the 70’s during the
food stamp era many lower income communities were often affected by drugs. When Smith was
younger her mother would do things to help the community. Smith and her siblings would often
go to food pantries to pick up supplies and her mother would cook food to feed the whole
neighborhood. One particular example is during Mothers day her mother would help mothers
that were addicts get dressed up for church. This way their kids could see them in a positive
light. “For every mothers day she would fix the mothers up even if they were on drugs or
whatever their situation was she would make sure they would have a wig and she would do their
make up and make sure they had a dress and she would fix them up and go to church. So if their
kids did not see them in a good space any other time in their life they know that Mothers day or
New Years or any holiday my mother would always make sure the kids would have a good
experience for that day.”
Smith has a history of health issues including a heart monitor but despite that Smith can’t stand
to sit in the house and do nothing “I’m not supposed to be doing any of this. I’m really supposed
to be home resting and not doing anything stressful or strenuous but being home drives me crazy
and my only good space is my pantry. ” Smith says.
Since Smith is not funded she hopes that she can get funding from the government soon. As of
now the funding comes from Smith herself along with small donations from friends and family.
Smith is currently using credit cards to pay for Uhaul trucks to pick up food. “My hope is that I
can be funded by the government and have a drop in center where I can provide washing
machines, showers, computers, maybe temporary bedding for domestic violence,” She said. “I
would like to have parenting classes for teenage mothers and parenting classes for fathers I would like to have public assistance come out and sign people up for medicaid or food
stamps housing and we need vehicles”
To follow updates on the pantry Smith has a Tiktok tikka714_ and a facebook page Marians love
4 all inc.
