Dear Friends,

I write this, my final letter to you before my retirement on October 1st, with great pride. Together, we have spent the last 23 years working to end hunger in New York City and we’ve achieved great success. Every day, we are providing vulnerable New Yorkers with a way to make ends meet. We’ve given them a meal today, resources for a more secure tomorrow and the knowledge to lead and sustain healthy lifestyles.

I first announced my plans for retirement in December, and now the time has come for me to pass the torch. September marks the sunset of my tenure as President and CEO of Food Bank For New York City. And, while the Food Bank will surely continue to succeed under the new leadership of Margarette Purvis, I will never cease to be a champion for our cause and for the people we serve, especially now.

We are entering VERY dire times. There are currently three million New York City residents that find it hard to afford food for themselves and their families. They are teachers, seniors, veterans, mothers, the working poor, adults living with disabilities, maybe even your neighbor, maybe even you — and they are struggling.  Making it through the month often seems impossible; it brings stress, depression and panic. Through the years, they have come to depend on the Food Bank and our network of more than 1,000 community-based member programs such as soup kitchens, food pantries, senior and community centers, free income tax service sites and more. One in five relies on us. And now, we’re finding it hard to make ends meet too.

Changes in federal and state funding are poised to have a devastating effect on those we serve. Potential federal funding cuts could leave New York City's emergency food network with 10 million fewer meals for new Yorkers in need.

In spite of these challenges, the Food Bank For New York City continues to help provide more than 400,000 free meals a day. In fact, since our beginnings, we have distributed more than one billion pounds of food across all five boroughs. Food distribution is the core of our mission, but also the foundation for a host of other social services to help people get back on their feet. I’ve seen first-hand how our solutions to hunger have effected positive change in the lives of so many.

In the face of these challenging times, I choose to leave this legacy behind: that together, we can do it!  We can make sure every New Yorker has permanent access to nutritious, affordable food, the resources to survive and the knowledge to make a better choice. Our resolve and dedication to this cause is powerful, and transforming. And, as my time as leader of this great organization comes to a close, I am excited about the bright future ahead.

Sincerely,

Lucy Cabrera, Ph.D., CAE
President and CEO