A Bronx pantry that saw empty shelves for two weeks has received an unexpected donation from a congressman. 

Recently, News 12 spoke with Aleksander Nilaj, the founder of the Albanian American Open Hand Association, about the lack of food donations, which caused them to turn people away at the door. Days later, Rep. Ritchie Torres says he donated $5,000 to the pantry. 

"Bronx is ground zero for food insecurity in the United States,” says Torres. 

The Albanian American Open Hand Association has been operating in the Bronx for over a decade, fighting food insecurity in the borough.  

Torres says that he will continue working with the pantry to find a solution so they can stay open for as long as they are needed.