MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
Holiday dinners hosted at two Queens public schools this month offered families facing housing instability a rare chance to slow down, share a meal and spend time together in a welcoming setting.
The events were organized by Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens in partnership with the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation as part of the nonprofit’s ongoing Adopt-a-Family holiday initiative. Dinners were held Dec. 18 at P.S. 16Q, The Nancy DeBenedittis School, and Dec. 22 at P.S. 92Q, The Harry T. Stewart, Sr. School, both in Corona. New York State Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, who represents the 39th Assembly District, attended in support.
“It was truly meaningful to see P.S. 16 transformed into a home, a place of warmth, joy, and connection. For many families navigating housing instability and economic uncertainty, the holidays can be especially difficult. Events like this offer more than a meal. They provide dignity, comfort, and a sense of belonging,” Cruz said. “I’m deeply thankful to Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens and the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation for appreciating all families, honoring the cultural diversity of our community, and reminding our neighbors that they are supported not just during the holidays, but year-round. This is the power of partnership and what it looks like when we show up for one another in Queens.”
School cafeterias were decorated with holiday lights, music and activity tables for children, who posed for photos with Santa, played games and showed off art projects. Donations included stuffed animals from the Bronx Zoo, toys from the 110 Precinct Youth Explorers and Elmhurst Hospital, and household items from the nonprofit God’s Blessings Plan. Parents and caregivers were able to spend uninterrupted time together as children played nearby.
Each dinner welcomed about 100 guests, many living in temporary housing or homes without reliable cooking facilities. Families were served a sit-down holiday meal that included turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, along with vegetarian options. Organizers said the menu was designed to reflect the cultural diversity of Queens.
“These events are about more than food,” said Yoselin Genao Estrella, executive director of Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens. “NHS of Queens and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation serve Queens families in different, yet deeply connected, ways: housing and financial stability on one side, healthcare access and wellness on the other. Through our Adopt-a-Family initiative, we bring those missions together to offer families nourishment, relief, and hope at a time when stress and uncertainty are often at their highest. It is a powerful example of what community collaboration can achieve.”
Behind the scenes, NHS of Queens staff worked with school parent coordinators to identify families most in need and to coordinate food, decorations and on-site support. Families also received information about housing assistance, financial counseling and health insurance options during the events.
“We’re all stronger when we stand together with trusted community partners,” said Dr. Mark Levy, president and CEO, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield New York. “By working with a common purpose – to remove barriers to stable housing, nutritious food, and quality healthcare – we’re helping Queens families move from crisis to stability.”
Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens serves more than 12,000 residents annually, with a focus on Community Boards 3 and 4, areas with some of the borough’s highest rates of housing instability and food insecurity. The organization has long partnered with public schools as access points for families in crisis.
Parents and caregivers described the dinners as a welcome break from daily stress, organizers said, as children laughed, played and posed for photos.
“The holiday season should be a time of warmth, joy, and togetherness for every family. In Queens, our public schools become places of comfort and community, and these holiday dinners offered families facing housing instability a chance to gather, share a meal, and celebrate with dignity during a stressful time of year. I’m grateful to Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens and the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation for bringing holiday cheer, meaningful support to our neighbors, and for reminding families that they are seen, valued, and cared for,” said Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, who represents the 34th Assembly District.
