Dear friends,

As I mentioned in my last letter here (A Year in Recession, Jan 15), 2009 was a hard year for the Food Bank For New York City and the New Yorkers we serve. While we anticipate that economic hardship will continue in 2010, as we look back at this past fall and early winter — our busiest time of year — all of us at the Food Bank are deeply inspired by how our supporters came together in these difficult times.

Our inspiration comes from the outpouring of support for the Food Bank’s 2009 NYC Goes Orange campaign, with more than 300 partners raising food, funds and public awareness for New Yorkers who struggle to get by. The season also saw the launch of the Adopt a Food Program initiative — a partnership between the Food Bank and Mayor Bloomberg’s NYC Service that will dramatically increase volunteer support across our food assistance network.

Also, we launched the 2009–2010 CookShop school year. These unique Food Bank programs bring nutrition education to elementary and high school students as well as adults, inspiring enthusiasm for healthy, affordable foods. [PLUS: Witness our health and nutrition education efforts first-hand in our CookShop video.] And the Food Bank’s 18th Annual Agency Conference brought together hundreds from the hunger relief community, along with elected officials to strategize and build strength for the coming year.

With 3.3 million New Yorkers currently experiencing difficulty affording the food they need, it is essential that we continue this momentum together. President Barack Obama has set a goal to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. We’re now five years from that target, and I invite you to invest in our future by helping us end food poverty.

Thank you again for your continued commitment. I look forward to seeing many of you volunteering at our warehouse, “adopting” a local food program or celebrating at this year’s Can-Do Awards Dinner on April 20.

Sincerely,

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

Dear Friends,

The past year presented many challenges for the Food Bank For New York City. Unemployment reached a 26-year high. And 93 percent of our member soup kitchens and food pantries saw an increase in first-time visitors, as reported in our latest research report, NYC Hunger Experience 2009.

Responding to increased need, the Food Bank focused on our core strengths — food procurement, warehousing and a citywide network of approximately 1,000 food assistance programs that help meet our neighbors’ immediate needs. Working toward long-term solutions, additional Food Bank efforts include nutrition and health education, tax assistance for the working poor, food stamp outreach and assistance and public policy.

While the country’s response to the recession appears to have had a real impact on hunger, most of the government increases in support were designed as temporary measures — and will soon end.

Over 2009, the Food Bank brought hunger awareness into new arenas. Social marketing campaigns encouraged healthy eating and Food Stamp enrollment, while online efforts — the launch of Bank on It, the blog you're reading right now; our Twitter presence; and a YouTube channel — spread the word to new online communities and give you the opportunity to spread the word to your communities by passing along out blog posts, tweets and videos.

In the coming year, the Food Bank is committed to providing meals and services for New Yorkers who continue to struggle in difficult times and may confront increased need as temporary assistance measures phase out. And we will continue to rely on supporters like you. Whether you donate, volunteer or spread the word — every action helps keep our neighbors well fed. Thank you!

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

Dear Friends,

As the fall is coming to a close, we are three months into NYC Goes Orange, the Food Bank’s annual fund- and awareness-raising campaign. This series of events and happenings brings the city together in support of hunger relief, and it couldn’t come at a better time. More and more people are reaching out for help, and we in turn need your support today and throughout the holiday season.

The economic crisis has devastated families and left so many New Yorkers struggling. All through our network, we are seeing longer lines, greater need and signs that people are relying on us more than ever. At our Community Kitchen & Food Pantry of West Harlem, some first-time clients are changing the face of hunger. We’re seeing people standing on line in suits, people hit hard by the recession and struggling to recover. A lost job, a depleted savings account — recovery from these blows will be slow, and in the meantime, the Food Bank will continue to be a safety net for those in need.

Despite the economy, over the fall the Food Bank recently saw great success raising funds and awareness for hunger relief at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival, as over 40,000 attendees celebrated our city’s culinary culture. I’m so proud of our partnership with the festival — thank you to everyone who made it possible!

And as we approach the holidays, we rely on your continued support to meet the increased need in New York City. When the lines at soup kitchens swell, we see an urgent need in those crowds. Help us spread the word — share our stories with friends, family and coworkers by passing on this post. And be sure to browse our website for further information on the population we serve, our programs, upcoming events and more. Thank you for your support!

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

Dear Friends,

Never in the history of our organization has the Food Bank For New York City seen so many New Yorkers struggling to put food on the table. All walks of life are being affected by food poverty. From seniors, children and the working poor to the increasing number of city residents who are facing unemployment — these tough times have felt relentless over recent months. Food Bank research shows that in the midst of job losses, rising costs and a credit crunch, the number of New Yorkers having difficulty affording food has spiked to 4 million, almost doubling since 2003.

In response, we are increasing our efforts by exceeding our distribution goals for the current year. The Food Bank will distribute 12 percent more food this year than projected, providing 58 million pounds of food through our citywide network. At the same time, we are tackling food poverty from all angles, including public awareness and nutrition and health education.

The summer is a particularly challenging time to ensure that our city’s youth receive needed food. By supplying Summer Food Service Program information to our full network of approximately 1,000 member organizations, the Food Bank is sparking a vast outreach effort within our city’s low-income neighborhoods. Within our own offices, CookShop for Teens (EATWISE) is providing participants with a series of hands-on workshops, field trips and opportunities to educate other youth about making healthy food choices. During the coming school year, EATWISE teen participants will act as peer educators at their high schools throughout the city, as well as working to spread the word into their larger communities.

As challenging as these times may be, the Food Bank is making a difference with the help of many supporters and continues to explore new and innovative approaches to addressing food poverty. Your commitment to the Food Bank enables us to persevere with this vital work.

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