You are reading

Rep. Meng announces $1.9 million in funding for two western Queens nonprofits

Two non-profit groups in Queens have been awarded nearly $1.9 million in federal funds to help serve residents in the borough, Congresswoman Grace Meng, pictured, has announced (Photos via the governor's office (l.) and Facebook (r.))

Two non-profit groups in Queens have been awarded nearly $1.9 million in federal funds to help serve residents in the borough, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, pictured, has announced (Photos via the governor’s office (l.) and Facebook (r.))

Sept. 28, 2023 By Michael Dorgan

Two nonprofit groups in western Queens have been awarded nearly $1.9 million in federal funds to help serve residents across the borough, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng announced on Tuesday, Sept. 26.

Meng said that $1.6 million has been allocated to Make the Road New York, an immigrant services provider located at 92-10 Roosevelt Ave. in Jackson Heights, while $250,000 has been allotted to La Jornada, a food pantry located at 39-04 61st St. Woodside.

The funds, Meng said, will help the organizations provide services that aim to reduce poverty, offer adult literacy programs and help people access health care and legal services.

The money will also go toward the purchasing of new equipment, Meng said. For instance, Make the Road New York will use the funds to buy laptops and laptop carts for its adult education classes, while La Jornada will use the money to pay for classes for English, finance and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) classes.

Make the Road is one of the largest immigrant-led organizations in the state and focuses on workers’ rights, immigrant and civil rights, as well as housing accessibility. La Jornada helps provide food and educational programs to people in need and has several sites across the borough.

“As New York’s senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, a key part of my job is ensuring that federal agencies are properly funded so that they are able to assist non-profits that aim to serve their communities,” Meng said. “The nearly $2 million that was awarded to La Jornada and Make the Road will go a long way to help ensure that the key goals of both of these organizations are reached.”

The funds have been awarded via the Administration for Children and Families, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Food outside the La Jornada food pantry on 61st Street (Photo via Facebook)

Theo Oshiro, the co-executive director of Make the Road New York, welcomed news of the funding.

“We’re deeply appreciative of our House allies for supporting our work to provide programs and services for thousands of immigrants and working-class New Yorkers so that they can live with respect and dignity,” Oshiro said. “We strive every day to ensure that everyone, regardless of race, immigration status, or gender identity, finds the support and solidarity they need, when they open the door to our organization.”

Pedro Rodriguez, the executive director of La Jornada, echoed those sentiments.

“For the past 13 years, the mission at La Jornada has always been to serve with compassion New York City’s most vulnerable families, which sometimes includes the immigrant communities that arrive to our great city,” Rodriguez said. “We have always been proud to provide basic needs to these vulnerable groups, while also working to empower them to help them reach their full potential.”

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

The return of the Anniversary Day Parade: Our Neighborhood: The Way It Was

Jun. 7, 2025 By the Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society

For many years, Anniversary Day was a major event for those who came of age in the neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens. Traditionally celebrated on the first Thursday in June, unless it coincided with Memorial Day week, in which case it was moved to the second Thursday, it was a cherished day off from school, filled with festivities that left lasting memories.

Shots fired as NYPD confronts suspected car theft crew at Flushing auto shop Friday morning

The NYPD opened fire on a car theft crew who were caught in the act of stealing vehicles in Flushing on Friday morning.

Police from the 109th Precinct responded to a 911 call of a burglary in progress at around 5:30 a.m. at the Express Auto Repair shop at 134-02 33rd Ave. Officers encountered a group of ten men who were in possession of firearms in a parking area near the intersection of Prince Street and 33rd Avenue. As the officers approached on foot, the gunmen jumped into several vehicles and attempted to flee at a high rate of speed toward the officers, an NYPD spokesman said. One officer discharged his service weapon as the vehicles fled northbound on Miller Street toward 32nd Avenue.