Facilities and Operations Deliver Pre-Thanksgiving Meals to Local Seniors  

Departments within Columbia University Facilities and Operations joined together to deliver 150 pre-Thanksgiving meals to local senior citizens in Harlem at the Manhattanville Houses Senior Center and 3333 Broadway on Tuesday, November 24.  

"This yearly event is becoming a cherished tradition and we are very thankful for the opportunity to give back to our local community especially during these difficult times," says Thomas O'Donnell, Executive Director of Manhattanville Operations.

In the past, CUFO has joined with other community partners to host an in-person pre-thanksgiving feast for local seniors. In light of COVID, Columbia’s Manhattanville Operations together with Construction Business Services and Columbia Transportation were able to continue the tradition this year by safely dropping off meals at the two apartment complexes near the Manhattanville campus. The meals were prepared by Chef Cornel of Cornel’s Catering Company at Hot Bread Kitchen (HBK) in East Harlem. 

"A long time community partner of Hot Bread Kitchen, we are so grateful to Columbia for connecting one of our M/WBE businesses, Chef Cornel, with this opportunity. This is exactly what we are striving to do here at HBK: create economic opportunity for small business owners, while also playing a role in combating food insecurity in Harlem," says Caroline Mak, Small Business Director, Hot Bread Kitchen.