On Thursday, December 21, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and First Lady Jamie Markowitz joined New York Marriott Hotel at the Brooklyn Bridge General Manager Sam Ibrahim and Brooklyn Daily Eagle publisher Dozier Hasty in the kitchen to prepare holiday turkeys for the women of the YWCA of Brooklyn’s Judson Post Hall Residence and call on all Brooklynites and New Yorkers to donate canned foods to those in need this holiday season.

The catering staff of the New York Marriott Hotel at the Brooklyn Bridge supervised the preparation of the meal while Borough President Markowitz and the other novice chefs donned aprons and chef hats to cook up some good cheer for needy Brooklynites. Although soup kitchens and food pantries cannot accept food prepared in private homes, Borough President Markowitz wants to remind Brooklynites that packaged and canned goods are always needed by food pantries and shelters. He urges Brooklynites to donate canned goods, money, and time to organizations working to provide food and services to Brooklyn’s neediest residents.

In addition to its core mission of helping women achieve their goals and attain economic self-sufficiency, Brooklyn’s YWCA has a proud history of empowering women since its doors first opened in 1888. The YWCA’s Judson Post Hall Residence for Women provides 214 low income women aged 19 to 95 a safe, warm, community atmosphere at affordable rates.

The New York Mariott Hotel at the Brooklyn Bridge will be donating 12 turkeys with all the trimmings to the Brooklyn YWCA on Christmas Eve.