Met Council made sure that tens of thousands of New Yorkers were able to sit down to a real Thanksgiving meal, due to the extraordinary and repeated generosity of Jane Goldman and the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust. Their support did not just help; it saved the holiday for families and thousands of first-responder households across the city.
This year’s Thanksgiving effort came at a moment of crisis. Because of the SNAP shutdown, Met Council’s warehouse was almost empty after more than $1 million of emergency food was distributed in just 10 days to keep pantries open. At the exact moment that New York was facing a cliff, Jane Goldman and the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust stepped in. They replenished the Met Council warehouse and restored its ability to operate. They made sure that people in need were not forgotten.
Because of Jane and the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust’s intervention, Met Council was able to launch one of the largest Thanksgiving operations in our history. More than 120 distribution events took place across all five boroughs; ultimately, more than 105,000 first responders and food-insecure New Yorkers received full Thanksgiving packages. Police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, nurses and hospital staff picked up food for their own families.
Families received complete Thanksgiving packages filled with the foods Americans count on for the holiday: turkeys, corn, green beans, carrots, pumpkin, turkey stuffing mix, farina, cranberries, yams, applesauce, raisins and more. These were not symbolic handouts. These were full, dignified meals—the kind of support that lets parents bring home real Thanksgiving food even as grocery prices continue to climb.
“Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Jane Goldman and the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust, families all across New York, including our first responders, were able to celebrate Thanksgiving this year,” said David G. Greenfield, CEO of Met Council. “When our warehouse was nearly depleted because of SNAP cuts, Jane and the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust stepped in at the exact moment New Yorkers needed them most. Their generosity made sure no one was left behind. We cannot thank them enough.”
The Sol Goldman Charitable Trust has a long record of standing by New Yorkers. Their support this Thanksgiving continued that tradition in a profound way. They ensured that police, fire and EMS workers could bring home a full holiday meal to their families. And they ensured that seniors, working families and vulnerable households continued to receive the food they rely on.
This Thanksgiving operation was also a powerful extension of the Met Council’s year-round food network. It remains the nation’s largest free provider of kosher and halal food.
Met Council also provides a full range of services beyond food, including affordable housing, domestic violence support, senior programs and workforce development. These programs strengthen communities across New York and are supported by partnerships with government leaders, community agencies and philanthropic partners.
