Why He’s a Food Hero: Daniel Puerto, a Housing Outreach Coordinator, co-founded the Love Wins Food Pantry in June 2020 to serve residents of Queens affected by food insecurity during the pandemic. They provide healthy vegetables, non-perishable food, and PPE, and the pantry fosters a stigma-free environment of tolerance and acceptance for LGBT community members. In June 2020, Pride Month, the organization delivered more than four hundred meals to people in need.
Background: Food insecurity is a huge issue for the LGBT community during the pandemic, and many LGBT people are hesitant to go to pantries held by religious organizations. Puerto teamed up with several local businesses and community members to found Love Wins as both a pantry and a safe space for individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities to receive support.
Work: Puerto works as a Housing Outreach Coordinator for SAGE, an organization dedicated to helping LGBT older adults. He is also an activist for many LGBT causes in Queens and beyond.
Location: Jackson Heights, Queens
Awards, Praise and Honors: Daniel Puerto was featured in City & State New York as a Queens Hero for his work during the COVID-19 crisis.
Website: Love Wins Food Pantry, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
Resources and References: Queens Heroes (City and State NY)
