Watch CBS News

Staten Island Liberian Community Ships Food To Ebola-Stricken West Africa

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Liberian community on Staten Island collected food to ship to West Africa Saturday, at an event where free flu shots were also available.

As WCBS 880's Ginny Kosola reported, Dr. Janet Kim of the Beacon Christian Community Health Center said a flu shot is especially important this year.

"A lot of the symptoms that people can come in with, from things like Ebola, can also look like the flu," Kim said.

Staten Island Liberian Community Ships Food To Ebola-Stricken West Africa

But not everyone at the event wanted the flu shot.

"I'm a diabetic already and I don't want any additional complications," said one man, Sando, who said he had already gotten the shot.

Oretha Bestman-Yates, president of the Liberian Community Association of Staten Island, said her organization was collecting non-perishable food to take to West Africa.

"The health care workers in Liberia are calling me and telling me the challenges they are facing is food," Bestman-Yates said.

New York City was deemed Ebola free Tuesday with the release of Dr. Craig Spencer. But Spencer has pointed out that the crisis continues in West Africa.

Check Out These Other Stories From CBSNewYork.com:

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.