Nonprofit mentorship program raises awareness of Mott Haven food pantry with art project

The group Young Urban Christians and Artists worked with their mentorship program to paint a wooden pantry to raise awareness of the Mott Haven community's food pantry.

News 12 Staff

Nov 14, 2020, 11:09 PM

Updated 1,424 days ago

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A nonprofit mentorship program in the Bronx is teaching high school students that a little beauty can go a long way in helping others.
The group Young Urban Christians and Artists worked with their mentorship program to paint a wooden pantry to raise awareness of the Mott Haven community's food pantry. The fixture is next to a colorful fridge painted by another artist.
"There is already a fridge that has been painted by another artist, we are adding to what she built….she laid down the groundwork," says YUCA mentor, Aneudys Santana. "It attracts people and increases the awareness of it, so more people know it’s here."
Everyone from the mentees to those in community that turn to the pantry have faced a hard year.
"We want to mentor them and guide them. We live in a crazy world and we have to start with the youth," says mentor Nancy Mendez. "It's been hard for a lot of people, art has been a great way to escape where you are and it's a great way of expressing yourself."
Mendez adds, "Ultimately at the end of the day, I believe one of the greatest joys of life is giving back and I think it's important we start spreading that message with our youth."
The food pantry is located on the corner of East 141st Street and St. Ann's Avenue.