NEW YORK, NY – The Met Council made sure tens of thousands of New Yorkers could sit down to a real Thanksgiving meal this year, and that only happened because of the extraordinary and repeated generosity of Jane Goldman and the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust. Their support did not just help, it saved Thanksgiving for families and for thousands of first responder households across the city.
This year’s Thanksgiving effort came at a moment of real crisis. Because of the SNAP shutdown, Met Council’s warehouse was almost empty after we provided more than $1 million in emergency food in just ten days to keep pantries open. At the exact moment New York was on the brink, Jane Goldman and the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust stepped in. They replenished our warehouse. They restored our ability to operate. They made sure New Yorkers in need were not forgotten. Their generosity made all of this possible, and we are grateful to them again and again.
Because of Jane and the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust’s timely intervention, Met Council was able to launch one of the largest Thanksgiving operations in our history. More than 120 distribution events took place across all five boroughs, and ultimately, more than 105,000 first responders and food-insecure New Yorkers received full Thanksgiving packages. We saw police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, nurses, and hospital staff picking up food for their own families after serving ours. Every single one of those moments was thanks to Jane Goldman and the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust. Their generosity stretched across every borough and touched every community partner.
Families received complete Thanksgiving packages filled with the foods New Yorkers count on for the holiday. Turkeys, corn, green beans, carrots, pumpkin, kidney beans, peanut butter, tuna, milk, rice, spaghetti, turkey stuffing mix, farina, cranberries, yams, applesauce, raisins, and Nutrigrain bars. These were not symbolic handouts. These were full, dignified meals. The kind of support that lets parents bring home real Thanksgiving food even as grocery prices continue to climb. Once again, we are grateful to Jane and the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust for making that possible for tens of thousands of families.
“Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Jane Goldman and the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust, families all across New York, including our first responders, were able to celebrate Thanksgiving this year,” said David G. Greenfield, CEO of Met Council. “When our warehouse was nearly depleted because of SNAP cuts, Jane and the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust stepped in at the exact moment New Yorkers needed them most. Their generosity made sure no one was left behind. We cannot thank them enough.”
The Sol Goldman Charitable Trust has a long record of standing by New Yorkers whenever they are needed. Their support this Thanksgiving profoundly continued that tradition. They ensured that police, fire, and EMS workers could bring home a full holiday meal to their own families. They ensured that seniors, working families, and vulnerable households continued receiving the food they rely on. Their generosity is felt across the entire city.
This Thanksgiving operation was also a powerful extension of the Met Council’s year-round food network. Met Council remains the nation’s largest free provider of kosher and halal food. With the cost of living rising, the need continues to grow. Because of generous partners like the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust, Met Council continues to meet that need with dignity and compassion.
Met Council also provides a full range of services beyond food, including affordable housing, domestic violence support, senior programs, and workforce development. These programs strengthen communities across New York and are supported by partnerships with government leaders, community agencies, and philanthropic partners. We are especially grateful to Jane Goldman and the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust, whose generosity has once again transformed lives across the city.