A food distribution event was organized outside of the Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts in Parkchester early Friday.

The Arab American Family Support Center hosted the event in memory of Elijah Alperin. The organization handed out bags of healthy foods and offered support to immigrant families, something the group says keeps his spirit alive. 

"This is the perfect way to honor his memory and to imagine that he would be doing this with us... We started forming a line of people that live around here and then around 1 p.m. we started handing them out with some fruit and bread and a lot of food that the families are familiar with... then we were out so quick because there's a huge need and we're glad to meet that need,” said Matthew Francis, Senior Community Outreach & Enrollment coordinator. 

Colleagues say their friend would always give back to the community any way he could. The Arab American Family Support Center says they will be hosting more food drives in his memory.