BY DUSICA SUE MALESEVIC | Amid the happy chatter and plate clatter of the cafeteria, Peter Gallinari, 67, talked about why he decided to take part in a food bag program aimed at seniors.
“The price is good — $8 for a bag of groceries,” Gallinari told Chelsea Now last week. “Fruits and vegetables are not cheap anymore.”
Now in its fourth year, the “Fresh Food for Seniors Program” was being offered for the first time at the Encore Senior Center (239 W. 49th St. btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.).
Gallinari now lives in Queens but at one time worked and lived in Manhattan. An actor, he has been in films such as “Men In Black.” He regularly comes to eat at the center in Hell’s Kitchen, he said, as the food is good.
Nieves Taveras is the assistant director of the center, and has worked there for 20 years. She explained that the center offers a free breakfast (albeit 50 cents for coffee) and asks for a $1.50 donation for lunch — although no one is turned away if they can’t contribute.
The food bag program, which provides fresh produce from local farms, is new to the center, she said, and is in its second week. The first week, 15 seniors signed up, and 10 signed up for the second, she said. The program is also open to those who are not seniors, and others have signed up.
Taveras also noted the low cost. The first week, many were expecting more fruit, she said, but the bag only contained blueberries.
Gallinari didn’t mind that, saying he was happy with what he got — radishes, lettuce, beets and zucchini — and signed up again.
Both he and his wife — married for 28 years — love to cook, he explained. Growing up in Brooklyn, he learned from his father, who was a chef at a restaurant in Coney Island, and his wife learned from her mother.
He was hoping for different vegetables each week, saying, “variety is the spice of life,” with a smile.
Ken Jockers, executive director of the nonprofit Hudson Guild, said in a phone interview that this is the second year that his organization is participating in the program.
“We are delighted to be participating again in the program this year,” said Jockers.
He explained that it all started when Gale Brewer, now Manhattan borough president, was a councilmember and used to run the program in her district. Councilmember Corey Johnson then decided to bring the program to District 3. This is the second year that the program is being offered in the district.
People pay their $8 fee one week and then get the food the next, Jockers explained.
The pick up for the bags of veggies and fruits for Hudson Guild is at the Fulton Senior Center (119 Ninth Ave. btw. 17th & 18th Sts.), said Jockers, who noted that 33 people signed up for the first distribution this year, which was on par with last year.
“We expect that number to increase as people are reminded that it is available again, and as word of mouth spreads,” he said.
Older adults can take part in the program as much or as little as they would like, said Jockers.
“It allows people to participate based on what their schedule is, what their week to week finances are,” said Jockers. “The obligation to participate is not high — you can opt in whenever you want, which is a very nice flexible thing for people.”
Flexibility is one of things that Darlene Waters, 70, vice president of the Elliott-Chelsea Houses, also noted. Waters participated in the program last year and is again this year.
“The program is beautiful,” Waters said by phone. “I love it. For me, it’s making my family eat a lot more vegetables.”
She also enjoys learning about the different vegetables that come in the bag, she said.
Waters has been spreading the word to the complex’s residents and a lot of them have been participating in the program. This has spurred conversations among neighbors about recipes and how to prepare the vegetables, she said.
Jockers said that the program has been well received at Hudson Guild, and it is a way for people to access fresh fruits and vegetables.
“I think people have been very happy with the flexibility and ease and the quality of the food,” he said. “I think it’s an incredible resource for older adults in the neighborhood.”
The Fresh Food for Seniors program makes deliveries every other week, through Nov. 18. Those interested in participating can enroll and pay at Councilmember Corey Johnson’s office (224 W. 30th St., Suite #1206 btw. Seventh & Eighth Ave.) or at a participating senior center that includes the SAGE Center, VISIONS, Greenwich House and West Village Houses Neighbors Helping Neighbors. For more info, call 212-564-7757 or email district3@council.nyc.gov.
