by Heather Joseph

“It is in the shelter of each other that the people live." —Irish proverb

It was the final event of the hugely successful Food Network NYC Wine & Food Festival, last month. The volunteers were in place, the event was in full swing and I had a moment to sit and rest. Sitting and talking with my event-producer colleague, Moira, a homeless man came up and asked for change. We didn’t have any money on us, but Moira quickly jumped up and grabbed a serving of meatballs and bread from inside. He smiled brightly as he ate, saying, “It’s warm, thank you.”

Moira, who works at Karlitz & Company, the event-production company that helps to manage the festival, was visibly touched. She had been working for months, planning events to benefit hunger relief — but making direct connection with a New Yorker in need and seeing his appreciation for a warm meal really brings the problem of hunger home.

As we continued to talk, we discussed a common misperception. Too many people believe that hunger is a problem mostly limited to our city’s homeless population. And while homelessness is a serious problem in our city, homeless men, women and children actually make up a small percentage of the New Yorkers who rely on the Food Bank to eat. Hunger is widespread throughout the five boroughs and, in fact, one of the largest groups that access emergency food is the working poor — men and women who work part-time, full-time and often multiple jobs, but who often rely on a soup kitchen or food pantry to make ends meet.

Learn more about the population we serve by reading the Food Poverty in NYC section of our website, including stories from New Yorkers we help. Or, even better, volunteer and meet some of the New Yorkers who rely on the Food Bank.