Queens, NY, November 12, 2025 — On Friday, Nov. 7th, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens hosted an emergency food pantry at the Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Msgr. Pfeiffer Resource Center in Howard Beach, supporting furloughed federal employees affected by the government shutdown.
“Federal workers are struggling during the government shut down, they haven’t gotten a paycheck and don’t know when they will get another one; we decided to step in and at least bring food and food vouchers to help them,” said Debbie Hampson, Senior Director of Community and Mobile Outreach Services at Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Community Outreach Services purchased fresh produce and non-perishables for the pantry. A steady stream of federal employees from the TSA, Social Security offices, and Parks Department came to the food pantry from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to receive bags of groceries, a $50 food voucher, and information on other helpful Catholic Charities services.
Catholic Charities employees and volunteers from Knights of Columbus councils across Brooklyn and Queens packaged groceries and assisted pantry patrons.
“We’re here to volunteer and help out and we do this, not just now, but we do this all the time, and Catholic Charities does it all the time,” said Joseph Peluso, Secretary to the State Deputy of the Knights of Columbus for New York State. “Our mission is to help the needy and those less fortunate, so it’s very important to us that when people need help, we help. ”
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens extends a heartfelt thank you to the Knights of Columbus members that volunteered from the following councils across Brooklyn and Queens: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Council 6243, Columbus Council 126, Rev. Edward J Matthews Council 5989, Flatbush Council 497, Saint Finbar Council 15728, Most Precious Blood Council 6134, Morris Park Council 566, Monsignor Sherman Council 5103, Olympia Council 394, Colon/ Msgr. Higgins Council 309, Our Lady of Perpetual Help/ Msgr. Flynn Council 17153, Dr Thomas A Dooley and Fr. M J McGivney Council 430, Commodore John Barry Council 712, Sgt. Basilone Council 4020, and Msgr. Walter J Missbach Council 5469.
In addition, Catholic Charities USA sent seven pallets of food for the pantry pop-up, which was distributed to offices in Brooklyn and Queens where federal employees were currently working and unable to attend the pantry in person.
With the government shutdown affecting federal employees and those who lost their SNAP benefits earlier this month, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is working hard to provide support through its 60+ food pantries, mental health services, and more.
For more information on how you can receive help from Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, visit https://www.ccbq.org/service/food-pantry-network/
To help support Catholic Charities’ mission, visit https://www.ccbq.org/give/