Thank you to Engel & Völkers!

It’s no surprise that food is one of the most requested items at NCS’s programs. Whether it's a warm meal or shelf-stable canned goods in our food pantries, food is essential. And with the cost of food up 13% over the past year and some neighborhood meal programs still suspended because of the pandemic, food donations have become even more pivotal for our clients.

That’s why we were so ecstatic when the Engel & Völkers Wellness Committee reached out to say they wanted to run a food drive for NCS!

The Wellness Committee was established in the spring of 2020 with the purpose of implementing initiatives that promote employee wellness and encourage happiness and connection among team members. They've hosted several employee events (such as pumpkin carving contests and friendsgiving) and send out a monthly newsletter with topics that include self-care tips and healthy recipes.

Community engagement and giving back are also part of these initiatives, especially around the holiday season. This year the Committee wanted to focus on a local New York City charity serving New Yorkers who may be unhoused or food insecure.

When Stuart Siegel, Chief Strategy Officer at Engel & Völkers Americas and Vice President of the NCS Board of Directors, heard that the Wellness Committee was looking for such an organization to support, he immediately suggested NCS.

"As a committed supporter of NCS, I am continually impressed by the organization's ability to find creative solutions to ever-changing issues surrounding housing,” Stuart explained. “NCS has helped so many New Yorkers during times of great need, and it's an honor to support this cause and to have introduced the organization to my colleagues at Engel & Völkers."

Engel & Völkers team members were asked to donate shelf-stable items to their Thanksgiving food drive. When Alex Dennis-Browne from the Wellness Committee delivered the donations, he also brought good news—Engel & Völkers decided to keep the food drive going so that more donations can be collected throughout the holiday season!

"At Engel & Völkers, we are always looking to give back to the communities which we serve throughout the Americas and around the globe," explained Anthony Hitt, President and CEO of Engel & Völkers Americas. "With our Americas headquarters located in New York City, we are honored to be able to give back to our fellow New Yorkers, especially during the holidays."

Thank you to everyone at Engel & Völkers who organized the food drive and donated four huge bags of food for NCS clients.

In honor of NCS’s 40th anniversary, we will be sharing stories about our founders, volunteers, supporters, and staff who make our work possible, and the residents and clients at the center of our mission.
Check back throughout the year as we regularly update the series with new stories from our 40 years here.