Food truck meal giveaways from community activist

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Frankie Flowers (red jacket) distributing free food during the pandemic in 2021 (MHNN file photo)

POUGHKEEPSIE – The City of Poughkeepsie’s well-known community volunteer, Frankie Flowers was hard at work again on Friday, helping those in need.  Flowers, the son of the late John Flowers, a community legend, and brother of Councilwoman Yvonne Flowers, joined with Dutchess Outreach to provide food to anyone in need on Friday in Poughkeepsie.

 
Joined by one of his countless volunteer assistants, Flowers parked his box truck in the parking lot at the corner of North Hamilton and Mill Streets at lunchtime to giveaway groceries including eggs, milk, vegetables, and other staples.  There were enough bags of food for 100 families.
 
“People need to eat.  This pandemic has created financial hardships that forced people to go hungry.  Dutchess Outreach, who does so much for the community needed help distributing food and I responded immediately.  Together we are helping the community.”  Within minutes of setting up the distribution site and announcing it on Facebook, the parking lot began to fill with people seeking groceries.  “I can’t thank Frankie Flowers enough for all he does.  He’s a lifesaver,” said a lady from Poughkeepsie’s north side neighborhood.
 
Flowers has been credited with continuing several traditions established by his late father.  Along with his sister Yvonne and an army of volunteers, Frankie has carried on the annual Easter Egg hunt, Holiday toy drive, free meals on various holidays.  The younger Flowers is known for his inability to say “no” when people seek his assistance for a variety of issues including requests for furniture, food, and school supplies.  “My father taught me early in life that it’s important to help those in need and just as he said, it’s an incredibly rewarding feeling when you do it.”




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