By Philip Mauro
On an early March Monday, Debbie Hootam and Jennifer Smith of Investors Bank climbed into the food truck and got to work serving food to those in need.
Hootam and Smith, Assistant Vice Presidents of the Investors Bank (896 Manhattan Ave.) met earlier in the day with Ryan Kuonen (Executive Director of North Brooklyn Angels) and Rev. John Merz from Church of the Ascension to deliver a $5000 donation from the Investors Foundation.
“The North Brooklyn Angels are blessed to have neighbors like Investors Bank who through their generosity help to keep the food flowing every day,” said Rev. John who also serves on the North Brooklyn Angels board.
The North Brooklyn Angels serves 200 meals a day from various locations around Greenpoint and Williamsburg.
The work in the food truck proved moving for both women. Smith, who works with many community organizations through her work with the Investors Foundation, commented that the amount of community partnership that makes the truck possible was very inspiring. She is very proud that the Foundation’s grant is going to fund organizations that are truly “grassroots”-driven.
Hootam noted later that Monday was the 1-year anniversary of her brother’s death, which put a somber cast on the day for her. She said, “coming out and seeing how fortunate we are to have life and to give back to the community really lifted me up.” Helping others seemed the perfect way to remember her brother and experience the hope and care that this Mobile Soup Kitchen creates every day the lives of the volunteers and the clients.
For more information about the North Brooklyn Angels you can visit their web site at www.northbrooklynangels.org
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