HOT MEALS & COMMUNITY OUTREACH: SENATOR HWANG VOLUNTEERS AT JOHN STREET BRIDGE

Sen. Hwang (right) serves food on Sunday December 1st at the St. Johns Street Bridge in Bridgeport.

Each Sunday morning, local nonprofits, church groups, and general members of the community come together under Bridgeport’s John Street bridge to hand out hot meals among other necessities to the area’s homeless and those in need.  They come whether rain, cold, or snow, and they come consistently.  Senator Hwang joined the efforts of these Good Samaritans early Sunday morning, helping distribute home-made meals of rice, chicken, and greens. It was an incredible reminder of how taking even just a few hours each week to help others can create a positive difference to those in need around us.

Talking with volunteers from Hope For Recovery, who handed out baked goods donated by “Donut Crazy,” HugTime/CoffeeTime, who delivered and handed out groceries donated by “Trader Joe’s,” and Feed’em Fighters, who served home-cooked, hot breakfasts, these men and women embody the ideal of personal sacrifice and service to others.  They remind us of the kindness in our community, and the inherent truth to American anthropologist Margaret Mead’s quote, to “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Senator Tony Hwang, who helped serve food and hand out supplies, said, “The outpouring of volunteers, churches, and business donations was inspirational and the volume of those in need was a stunning reminder that so many of our neighbors are homeless, hungry, and potentially a paycheck loss away from economic struggle and freefall. The smiles, appreciation, and gratitude on the faces of the people we fed and kept warm were the ultimate reward of renewing our soul by caring and giving back.”

Bridgeport’s Helping Hands Outreach Executive Director April Barron, who helps organize these weekly social programs, offered, “We, at Helping Hands Outreach and the people whom Senator Hwang help served under the John Street bridge were truly humbled and appreciative of him taking time out of his busy legislative schedule to come serve the community and we look forward to seeing more people sharing the love under the John Street Bridge.”