August 2026 Impact Report:
A New Refrigerated Truck Means Fresher Food for Tens of Thousands
MUNA Social Services has acquired a brand new refrigerated truck, a major upgrade to the infrastructure behind NEFAP, the Nourish Emergency Food Assistance Program.
This is not a small addition. For an organization that moves hundreds of thousands of pounds of food every single month across New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, a refrigerated truck changes the game. Fresh produce, dairy, halal meat, and temperature-sensitive items can now be transported with the kind of care and consistency that a standard truck simply cannot provide. The food that reaches families will be fresher, safer, and better.
Up until now, the scale of what NEFAP does has been built on determination, community partnerships, and a whole lot of coordination. The new truck adds something else: capacity. MSS can now reach more pantry sites, respond faster to urgent needs, and handle the kind of volume that summer demand and growing distribution networks require.
“This truck is the result of months of planning and a clear vision for where NEFAP needs to go,” said Dr. Jahangir Kabir, Director of Operations and Communications at MSS. “We are serving close to 30,000 individuals every month across four states. To do that responsibly, we need the right infrastructure. This truck is a direct investment in the quality of food we deliver and the communities we serve. We did not just need more capacity. We needed better capacity.”
Abul Kashem, Director of Warehouse Operations at MSS, knows what this means on the ground better than anyone.
“Every month we are moving close to half a million pounds of food. Having a refrigerated truck means we are not compromising on quality to hit those numbers. Families deserve fresh food, not just food. This makes that possible. It also means we can take on more sites, move faster, and make sure nothing spoils before it reaches the people who need it.”
The truck joins an operation that already serves tens of thousands of individuals every month and continues to grow. For the families who depend on NEFAP, this investment means more reliable access to fresh, culturally relevant groceries that make a real difference at home.
MSS is not slowing down. It is scaling up.
MSS Hosts Community Safety Roundtable with Deputy Mayor Renita Francois
On August 26, 2026, MUNA Social Services hosted a Community Safety Roundtable at Baitul Mamur Masjid and Community Center, 1033 Glenmore Ave, Brooklyn, bringing together community leaders, local residents, and law enforcement for a direct conversation about public safety in East New York and Ozone Park.
The event was sponsored by MSS and held in partnership with the Community Help Center. At the center of the discussion was Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Renita Francois, who joined the roundtable to hear from the community firsthand and share how the city is approaching public safety across the five boroughs.
The room was full and the conversation was real. Community members raised concerns about crime, neighborhood safety, and the relationship between residents and law enforcement. NYPD representatives were present, giving attendees a direct line to the people responsible for keeping the neighborhood safe. Topics covered ranged from street safety and youth violence prevention to how city agencies can better coordinate with community organizations like MSS to address root causes of crime before they escalate.
For MSS, hosting this roundtable was a natural extension of the work it already does. Fighting food insecurity, supporting youth through Aim High Academy, helping families navigate government systems through the Community Help Center, all of it is connected to community safety. When families have food, when kids are in programs, when people know where to turn for help, neighborhoods get safer.
Deputy Mayor Francois’s presence at Baitul Mamur sent a clear message: the city is listening. MSS made sure the community had a room to speak in.
36 Donors, One Afternoon: MSS Hosts Blood Drive in Jackson Heights
On Friday, August 14, 2026, MUNA Social Services sponsored a Blood Drive at the MUNA Center of Jackson Heights, 35-35 71st Street, Jackson Heights, NY 11372, in partnership with the New York Blood Center. The drive ran from 2 PM to 6 PM and brought out 36 donors from the community.
36 people sat down, rolled up their sleeves, and gave. That is 36 chances for someone in a hospital bed somewhere in New York to make it through surgery, survive a trauma, or fight through an illness. Blood does not come from a factory. It comes from people who show up.
MSS brought this drive to Jackson Heights deliberately. The community there is dense, diverse, and deeply connected, exactly the kind of neighborhood where a well-organized blood drive can make a real impact. The MUNA Center provided the space, MSS provided the backing, and the New York Blood Center handled the collection. The community provided the 36 donors.
The drive was open to anyone between the ages of 17 and 75, with parental permission required for 16-year-olds and physician consent for those 76 and older. Donors came prepared, ate well, hydrated, and brought their IDs. They left having done something that costs them an hour and could save someone’s life.
For MSS, this is what community service looks like beyond food and education. Sometimes showing up for your community means giving a part of yourself, literally.
MSS Partners with Council Member Hankerson to Feed 300 Families in Jamaica
On Friday, August 7, 2026, MUNA Social Services partnered with NYC Council Member Ty Hankerson of the 28th Council District, UA3 Community First, and the Bangladeshi American Society to host a food distribution at Masjid Al-Koaba, 107-06 Inwood Street, Jamaica, NY 11435.
Starting at 2:00 PM on a first come, first served basis, UA3 distributed food for 300 families. Every bag included groceries and halal meat, selected to meet the cultural and dietary needs of the Jamaica community.
Council Member Ty Hankerson, who represents the 28th District in Queens, brought the civic backing that made the event possible. Alongside MSS, UA3 Community First, and the Bangladeshi American Society, the partnership brought together organizations that collectively have deep roots across Queens and Brooklyn, all showing up in the same place for the same reason.
For MSS, this distribution is another example of what happens when community organizations and elected officials align around a shared goal. Jamaica is a neighborhood MSS has been building its presence in, with the new Aim High Academy location on 89th Ave and growing community partnerships across the area. A food distribution at Masjid Al-Koaba fits directly into that work.
300 families walked away with groceries and halal meat on a Friday afternoon. That is the work.
30 People Walked Into a Masjid on a Saturday and Saved Lives
On Saturday, August 15, 2026, MUNA Social Services sponsored a Blood Drive at Ar-Rayyan Masjid, 196-43 Foothill Ave, Hollis, NY 11423, in partnership with the New York Blood Center. The drive ran from 9 AM to 3 PM and brought out 30 donors from the community.
30 people walked into their local masjid on a Saturday morning and gave blood. That is 30 potential lives saved across hospitals in New York City, through surgeries, trauma cases, cancer treatments, and emergencies that depend on a supply that only exists because people show up.
The location was intentional. Ar-Rayyan Masjid sits at the heart of the Muslim community in Hollis, Queens. Bringing the drive through its doors meant reaching donors in a space they already trust, removing the barrier of traveling across town to a donation center.
MSS sponsored this drive because community service does not begin and end with food. Health and civic participation are part of the same work. When the opportunity to give is placed directly in front of people, in their neighborhood, in their masjid, they respond. Hollis proved that on August 15.
Donors came prepared with photo IDs, ate well before arriving, and showed up ready to give. The drive was open to anyone between 17 and 75, with parental permission required for 16-year-olds and written physician consent for those 76 and older.
MSS Shows Up for Families at Council Member Banks' Annual Health Fair
On Saturday, August 15, 2026, MUNA Social Services joined Council Member Chris Banks of District 42 for the Intergenerational Annual Back to School Health Fair at Gateway Estate Park, Umojia Park in East New York, running from 11 AM to 5 PM.
The event brought together families, kids, seniors, and community organizations for a full day of free activities and giveaways as the new school year approached. Attendees enjoyed face painting, cotton candy, popcorn, hotdogs and hamburgers, free refreshments, and a book bag giveaway to help students head back to school ready and prepared.
For families in East New York, events like this matter. A free book bag is one less expense. A health fair means access to resources and information that many households do not get through a doctor’s visit. A day at the park with food, activities, and community organizations all in one place means parents and kids leave knowing what is available to them.
MSS was one of a wide coalition of partners and sponsors at the fair, alongside Brooklyn Defenders, Local ENY, Tropical Kids Inc., NYC Department of Sanitation, NYPD, Digital Girl Inc., Griot Circle, Millennium Development, CodyCares for Kids, LOCE NY, Chess in the Schools, Pride Power Purpose, and others.
Council Member Chris Banks has been a consistent partner of MSS across food distributions, community events, and civic engagement in East New York. The Back to School Health Fair is another example of what that partnership looks like in practice.
MSS Joins Congressional and State Leadership for East New York Back to School Giveaway
On Saturday, August 15, 2026, MUNA Social Services joined Assemblywoman Nikki Lucas, U.S. Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, and Male District Leader Michael Rosendary for the Annual Back to School Bookbag and School Supply Giveaway on Vermont Street between Linden Blvd and Stanley Ave in East New York, from 12 PM to 5 PM.
The event delivered exactly what families needed heading into the school year. Free food, bookbags, school supplies, haircuts, and hair braiding, all on a first come, first served basis while supplies lasted. For parents stretching every dollar before September, showing up to Vermont Street on a Saturday meant sending their kids back to school with what they needed.
The names behind this event carry serious weight. Assemblywoman Nikki Lucas represents AD 60 and has been a vocal advocate for East New York. Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Leader and representative of NY’s 8th Congressional District, is one of the most powerful elected officials in the country. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and District Leader Michael Rosendary rounded out a lineup of leadership that does not often show up on the same block at the same time.
MSS was proud to be part of it, joining One Brooklyn Health, East New York Street Reach, Campaign Organizer, and other community partners to make the day run.
Events like this are what community investment looks like in practice. Not a press release, not a photo op. A street lined with families, free supplies, and elected officials who showed up.
123 Clients. Four Sites. One Month at MSS' Community Help Center
August was another steady month at MUNA Social Services’ Community Help Center. Across its four branches in East New York, Parkchester, Kensington, and Jackson Heights, CHC assisted 123 clients, helping them navigate immigration paperwork, government benefits, housing applications, and more, all at no cost.
East New York carried the heaviest load with 62 clients, followed by Parkchester with 35, Kensington with 14, and Jackson Heights with 12.
The breakdown of services this month tells a familiar story about what the communities CHC serves are up against:
- Immigration assistance: 42 cases
- SNAP benefit applications and renewals: 25 cases
- Bangladesh Consulate support: 21 cases
- Health insurance enrollment: 11 cases
- U.S. Passport applications: 6 cases
- Food vendor assistance: 7 cases
- Half fare MetroCard applications: 5 cases
- Housing assistance: 5 cases
- Job assistance and unemployment: 5 cases
Immigration remained the single biggest driver of cases in August, accounting for more than a third of all client visits. For many of the families who walked through CHC’s doors this month, the process is complicated, the paperwork is overwhelming, and the stakes are high. CHC staff sat with every one of them, walked through the process step by step, and made sure no one left without a clear next move.
With summer winding down and fall bringing a new wave of needs across all four sites, CHC heads into September ready.
480,000 Pounds. 29,000 People. NEFAP Closes Out Summer Strong.
August closed out the summer on a strong note for MUNA Social Services’ Nourish Emergency Food Assistance Program. Across pantry sites in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, NEFAP distributed 480,000 pounds of food to 29,000 individuals in a single month.
Summer is historically one of the most demanding stretches for food programs across the city. School lunch programs are paused, household budgets are stretched, and the need that exists year-round becomes impossible to ignore. NEFAP met that demand head on, showing up at every pantry site with fresh produce, rice, lentils, canned goods, halal meats, and culturally relevant staples that families can actually use.
“August is always a test,” said Abul Kashem, Director of Warehouse Operations at MSS. “Demand peaks, temperatures are high, and the logistics get complicated. Moving 480,000 pounds through our network while making sure quality does not slip, that takes a team that is locked in every single day. I am proud of how everyone showed up this month.”
For the families who depend on NEFAP, the summer consistency made a real difference.
“Every time I come, the food is fresh and there is always enough,” said Amira H., a mother of three from Kensington. “My kids are home all summer and the pantry helps me keep them fed without worrying. That peace of mind means everything.”
“This program has been part of my routine for over a year now,” said Mohammed S., a senior from East New York. “The halal meat, the produce, it is food I recognize and know how to cook. That matters to me more than people realize.”
With back to school season underway and fall approaching, NEFAP heads into September with strong numbers, a growing network, and a community that keeps showing up.