On November 14, 2015, Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement hosted its most anticipated event of the year: the Citibank-sponsored 10th Annual Fall Family Feast. Hundreds of enthusiastic residents of all ages and backgrounds lined up at noon to participate in a day of delicious food, exciting entertainment, and great company.
Guests were greeted by a host of Citibank volunteers who manned buffets on both sides of the hall and served an array of lovingly prepared festive food , which included turkey, collard greens, mashed potato, rice, noodles, fresh green salad, string beans, and, last but not least, scrumptious apple and pumpkin pies.
Children enjoyed fun activities such as face-painting and arts & crafts while others danced to the upbeat tunes of our DJ. As the feast proceeded, guests were greeted with an exciting surprise when local celebrities Mr. and Mrs. Met suddenly popped in to pay a visit and pose for pictures. The atmosphere inside the Queensbridge community center was a congenial one and reminded us of what is truly important in life: family, friends, and community.
As in years past, the Citibank volunteers did an outstanding job. They worked tirelessly over a two day period to prepare for the event. On the day before the event, 30 volunteers chopped, sliced, stirred, and boiled like culinary masters. And on the following day, 70 volunteers arrived early in the morning to transform our gym into a beautiful and festive dining hall. Watching the Citi volunteers, you could see that no job was too small or insignificant if it was going to make this event an enjoyable experience for the community.
Director of Senior Services, Robert Madison, who has presided over the last five Fall Family Feasts, remarked that the three Citibank volunteers charged with coordinating this year’s event did an outstanding job. “Joe Campanelli, Kathy McTique, and Stephanie Tane were champions that set the course for our success. They maintained constant efficiency of operation in the kitchen and gym and ensured a solid coordination of human resources. They made sure that everyone had a job and everyone was thanked for doing such a good job.”
In all, 920 meals were served, which included 150 meals that were delivered to our homebound neighbors and to patients at a local substance abuse treatment facility. We cannot thank those who were involved in the planning and execution of the event enough for all of the time and energy they put into ensuring its success. We are extremely grateful to Citibank for their sponsorship and commitment to the Queensbridge community, and we look forward to many more years of hosting the Fall Family Feast.
