By Bill de Blasio, Public Advocate for the City of New York
This Monday will mark the 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which we celebrate as a national day of service. It is a time to reflect on how far we have come, and on the work still ahead, in helping struggling families across our country. But for the 1.5 million New Yorkers who are malnourished or chronically unsure of where their next meal will come from, it is a day like any other. All of them, including hundreds of thousands of children, struggle with hunger every day and need our help.
Time and again, New Yorkers have demonstrated an incredible spirit of unity in the face of grave challenge. Last August, when Tropical Storm Irene was set to hit New York, scores of you responded to our call for action and offered to help your friends and neighbors in an hour of need. We saw the same spirit in December of 2010, when a historic blizzard brought the City to a standstill—and volunteers stepped up to ensure hospitals remained accessible and streets were plowed.
The hunger crisis we face today is no less immediate, which is why my office will partner with the NYC Coalition Against Hunger to hold volunteer events across the City next week to address this growing problem.
We invite you to join us in celebrating the legacy of Dr. King by making a difference in the lives of fellow New Yorkers.
Thank you, and have a safe holiday!
