Welcome to Broadway Stages’ Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. We encourage our readers to join us in supporting these establishments and advancing local economic growth.

Queens Together began in March 2020 when COVID-19 shut down New York City. They are a network of Queens restaurants and community groups working together in NYC’s largest borough. This nonprofit organization aims to improve the health and vitality of the diverse multicultural restaurants and food businesses unique to Queens, New York.

As a professional organization, they equip food businesses with resources for best business practices and promotional services. Executive Director Jonathan Forgash said Queens Together supports nearly 400 associated restaurants throughout Queens in various business matters. They also advocate with city agencies and officials and partner with community organizations to help businesses and alleviate food insecurity in the borough.

Their main focus areas are as follows:

●        RESOURCES: Education, networking, and the services for success in the food and hospitality industry.

They have translated and dispersed information from the Small Business Association into multiple languages. They’ve also hosted webinars, such as one led by a restaurant owner who is an expert in accounting, or connected businesses with legal services.

●        PROMOTION: Increase sales and exposure via media, events, and community engagement.

“We work with restaurants who don’t have any skills with Instagram or websites,” added Forgash. “We had a digital designer curate and create an Instagram page for a Sri Lankan restaurant in Jamaica so they would have a digital presence because they were getting really good press, but they had nowhere to show it.”

●        COMMUNITY: Businesses, neighbors, and organizations working together to support the community one meal at a time.

Community advocacy and support are also essential to Queens Together. Their program to fight food insecurity is called “Plate It Forward.” It feeds frontline workers and people facing food and economic insecurity. Since 2020, they’ve served meals and groceries to nearly 400,000 people, thanks to local restaurants, the USDA’s Farm to Family program, and funding from public and private sources.

The strength of Queens Together lies in its members. If your business wants to join, click here. There are no membership dues! On being a member, TM Walker of MumsKitchens NYC said, “Queens Together was instrumental in keeping local businesses open by connecting them with monies to provide food to front liners and those in need. We are honored to be a member of this game-changing organization.” You can also support Queens Together financially. Your donation doesn’t just combat hunger, it also supports a thriving community.

Queens Together is very active in the community. This year alone, they have held a restaurant week, an international food expo, and their third annual Thanksgiving food distribution event. These events benefit their members, members of the community in need, and foodies throughout the city. If you want to know about what they will be offering in the future, you can follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

Finally, Rick White of The Bier and Cheese Collective said, “Queens Together’s unwavering support of small local businesses, which are the economic engine of our city and feeding people when they can’t feed themselves, is a noble pursuit of the highest calling.” Broadway Stages couldn’t agree more. We salute and thank Queens Together for the great work they do!