Reaching-Out food drive a success

When people work together for a good cause, everyone benefits inthe end. This was definitely the case when The HomeReporter and Brooklyn Spectator started a food driveto help Reaching Out Community Services, which has been helpingthose in need for about 20 years.

Thomas Neve, the executive director of Reaching Out CommunityServices, said that he appreciated the efforts of the HomeReporter in aiding his organization which, he stressed, isdedicated to helping those who are in real need of it, at thispoint the 4,000 families who are registered with ReachingOut.

In total, 2,000 pounds of food was collected, according to Neve,who said that the need has grown over the years. When theorganization was just starting out, 800 families were registered.The growth in the amount of people needing help shows the successof Reaching Out, but Neve says that it’s also proof that suchservices are vital.

At first, seniors and single moms were the majority of peopleseeking help, but in recent years, middle-aged and younger peopleare looking to Reaching Out for support, according to Neve.

Neve, who is a Bensonhurst native himself, says that Reaching Outallows for the process of receiving help to feel a little moredignified, as many people are reluctant in asking for assistance.This is accomplished by creating a supermarket style pantry, wherepeople are able to use shopping carts just like other grocerystores.

At the same time, the organization wants to make sure that help isgoing to right places. In order to be eligible for assistance,families have to go through a screening process to verify theirneed.

Luckily, Reaching Out has been able carry on for a long time, butadditional funding is needed to keep operations running. Seniorcitizens, teenagers, and others dedicate their time byvolunteering.

For further information about the organization, or to find out howyou can help, log onto www.rcsprograms.org, send an emailtoinfo@rcsprograms.org or call 718-373-4565