The Fourth Annual "Pre-Passover Food Drive" collected 3,600 pounds of food for needy New Yorkers, announced Chairman Corey Bearak and President Jeff Gurdus of the Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council (NEQJCC. �We encouraged donations of unopened non-perishable foods such as baby food, beans, pasta, rice, canned food at collection points through out northeast Queens to be distributed through City Harvest,� stated Gail Eisenberg, the NEQJCC's Executive Director who coordinated the March 11 � 28 food drive at several sites including the Samuel Field Y and Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation.

          Congressman Gary Ackerman, State Senators Frank Padavan, and Toby Stavisky, Assembly Members Ann Carrozza, Barbara Clark, Rory Lancman and Mark Weprin, and Council Members David Weprin, James Gennaro and Tony Avella joined the NEQJCC, the largest regional Jewish community council in the Greater New York area, to sponsor this program with the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (�Met Council�), Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, The Samuel Field/Bay Terrace Y, and many local synagogues and schools. "We seek to fight hidden hunger in the community," stated Mr. Bearak.

          The NEQJCC represents synagogues and other community, educational, fraternal, and religious institutions and organizations in some of the communities which form the City's backbone: Bayside, Bay Terrace, Bellerose, Douglaston, Floral Park, Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Hillcrest, Hollis Hills, Holliswood, Jamaica Estates, Little Neck, New Hyde Park, Oakland Gardens and Queens Village.

          NEQJCC projects include neighborhood development, Jewish continuity including Shalom Bayit/Healthy Marriage, Lay Leadership, social action, promoting involvement and volunteer opportunities, fostering intergroup understanding and building a multi-cultural coalition. The Council combats anti-Semitism and discrimination, sponsors forums with major public figures, Jewish cultural events, open discussions with local Rabbis and represents community concerns.

          Its newest program, the Harmony initiative or �Hi� represents a collaboration funded by the City Council including the Office of the Queens District Attorney, the City Commission on Human Rights and the Northeast Queens Branch-NAACP. Each Spring, the Council holds its Annual Legislative Forum, co-sponsored by Parker, Met Council, JCRC and Queens Region-Hadassah, at the Samuel Field Y. This year's forum, �2007 � A Transit Odyssey,� takes place Sunday, April 22, 2007, 9:30 a.m. at the Samuel Field Y; information is available on the Council's Calendar on its website, http://www.northeastqueensjewish.org/. For Information call NEQJCC Executive Director Gail Eisenberg at (718) 225-6750 x247.

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