At SACSS, Hochul Sees How Food, Skills and Community Support Reach Immigrant New Yorkers
Gov. Kathy Hochul helps distribute grocery bags at the South Asian Council for Social Services food pantry in Flushing, N.Y. Photo courtesy of SACSS.
FLUSHING, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul visited the South Asian Council for Social Services on Wednesday, touring programs that provide culturally appropriate food, health services and job training to underserved New Yorkers in more than 20 languages.
The visit, which coincided with International Translation Day, highlighted SACSS’s work with South Asian and other immigrant communities. Hochul met with staff members, board members, supporters and residents. She was joined by Assembly Member Nily Rozic and City Council Member Sandra Ung.
At the organization’s food pantry, Hochul helped distribute grocery bags and spoke with clients. SACSS said it was the first South Asian food pantry in New York to make culturally appropriate food a central part of its services. In 2025, the pantry distributed about 6 million pounds of groceries and now serves more than 2,270 families each week, providing staples including rice, lentils, cooking oil and spices, as well as fresh produce. It also delivers food to older and homebound residents.
Hochul said state funding helps sustain community spaces such as SACSS.
“I am very proud to be here and see the money that we allocate from Albany in our budget, with the support of Assembly Member Nily Rozic and Council Member Sandra Ung, come to you,” Hochul said. “It comes to places like this, this bright gathering place where you can see your friends and you just have camaraderie and socialization, exercise and good food across the day.”
Hochul also met participants in Wednesdays for Women, a weekly program that offers yoga, mental wellness activities, arts programming, social connection and a vegetarian lunch.
She later visited Stitch with SACSS, a workforce development program launched in 2023 that teaches sewing skills to immigrant women. Graduates receive a sewing machine and support to pursue work from home. Seventy women have completed the program.
During the tour, Hochul viewed a painting by New York City artist Vaidehi Kinkhabwala inspired by women who participated in the sewing program. SACSS said the work reflects their stories, confidence and aspirations for independent futures.
SACSS Executive Director Sudha Acharya said Hochul’s visit made community members feel “seen and valued.”
“We were honored to welcome Governor Hochul to SACSS and grateful that she spent quality time with our community,” Acharya said in a statement.
Founded in 2000, SACSS provides access to health care, food assistance, senior services, workforce development, mental health care, legal assistance and civic engagement programs.
