Altruistic veteran serves free meals in Hunts Point
A veteran in Hunts Point is helping his community one meal at a time, and doing most of it out of his own pocket. John Pena, 72, is serving up free food that he pays for with his own food stamps and
News 12 Staff
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Nov 9, 2014, 3:52 AM
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Updated 3,467 days ago
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A veteran in Hunts Point is helping his community one meal at a time, and doing most of it out of his own pocket.
John Pena, 72, is serving up free food that he pays for with his own food stamps and Social Security checks. He doles out the meals to residents from his Chevy van.
Pena, who uses a walker and just beat cancer, serves his patrons anything from rice and beans to cod fish stew.
Pena has been going to the corner of Lafayette and Hunts Point avenues every Saturday, on and off, for the past 10 years. His home aide accompanies him to help out.
Residents who live nearby also bring platters of food to help Pena serve the community.
Some of Pena's regulars say they rely on him for a hot meal when the temperatures drop.
Pena says he plans to continue his community service every weekend as long as he can, and hopes more residents come out and donate food.
