Volunteers David Rubeo and Harvey Rosenstein: Proudly Sharing Shifts and Their Lives

Harvey in the kitchen

David Rubeo and Harvey Rosenstein met in December of 2000 when David was working at the Metropolitan Opera and Harvey was attending a dress rehearsal there. Harvey offered David a baby carrot and the two went on their first date soon after, where they discovered they both had the same birthday (a few years apart). Nineteen years later, the two were married at Congregation B’nai Simchat Torah, the LGBTQ synagogue in midtown.

When David and Harvey got married, they designated God’s Love as one of the charities where guests could make donations in lieu of gifts! While God’s Love had always been part of their lives, in summer 2020 the two decided to volunteer together more regularly. Since then, David and Harvey work in the kitchen twice a week helping cook and pack meals for our clients living with illness.

Harvey began delivering in the 1980’s from a distribution site at Lincoln Center. David has run in our Race to Deliver annually since 2005.

David returns to God’s Love every week because he believes in our mission and knows the effort he puts in makes a direct impact:

“I know that the time I spend here is helping to bring food to those who need it. I love the people I volunteer with, some of whom have become good friends. I love the staff and how welcoming and friendly they are week after week. The chefs are all very kind, and I enjoy working in the bakery with Chef Dorothy.”

David in the bakery

Harvey says, “God’s Love is a cause that has been extremely dear to me for decades. Years ago a change in my work schedule made it necessary to put on hold my delivering meals. However, once I retired, I seized the opportunity to make up for lost time by volunteering in the kitchen. This experience has brought me such satisfaction – in doing something for others in need, in working with the amazing staff members and in the camaraderie that comes from working side-by-side with the band of extraordinary volunteers.”

After years cheering on God’s Love at the Pride March, last year, David and Harvey were thrilled to walk down 5th Avenue together alongside their fellow volunteers.