The 6th Annual Bronx Cranksgiving brought together cyclists from all over the City to deliver packaged food and produce to families in need at Broadway Plaza in the Kingsbridge section of The Bronx, among other locations, on Saturday, Nov. 12.

 

Jessica Altagracia Woolford, Kingsbridge Unidos founder, and based on the results to date, likely runner-up candidate for the Working Families Party in the recent Nov. 8 general election for Assembly District 81, joined the event along with other colleagues.

Bronx Cranksgiving partnered with Kingsbridge Unidos and cyclists from across the city to deliver purchased food products to families experiencing homelessness in the Kingsbridge area.

 

The event consisted of a food drive on two wheels, part bike ride, part food drive, and part scavenger hunt, and kicked off at 11 a.m. at Brook Park Community Garden, located at 494 E 149th Street in Mott Haven.

Altagracia Woolford said Cranksgiving has been held annually in New York City since 1999 and spin off events have since taken place in other cities around the globe. In 2016, it was held in The Bronx for the first time, and has reportedly supported numerous local organizations since then.

Bronx Cranksgiving goes beyond the traditional food drive by actively connecting cyclists with the community and borough. Participants ride through various neighborhoods in search of specific supermarkets, purchasing canned goods and produce listed on a manifest.

 

This year, Bronx Cranksgiving organizers partnered with Kingsbridge Unidos which, according to its founders, is a volunteer-run mutual aid group rooted in service and care for the community, to deliver the purchased food items to the families at a transitional housing facility in Kingsbridge.

Altagracia Woolford told Norwood News that food items went to Broadway Family Plaza, located at 5731 Broadway, in Kingsbridge. “Some of the generous donations from Whisps (a cheese crisps company) also went to the Friendly Fridge, located at 5977 Broadway (242nd Street and Broadway), RNH Fridge, and Mt St Vincent’s Fridge as well,” she said.

As reported, Kingsbridge Unidos recently organized a back-to-school supplies and food giveaway on Aug. 12, in conjunction with Cash Cow NYC.

 

Norwood News previously reported on the concept of neighborhood fridges to help people experiencing homeless, and which appeared to gain more traction amid the pandemic.

 

In recent months, we have also seen evidence of seemingly regular people leaving pre-packaged sandwiches on park benches for those who need them in the Bedford Park neighborhood.