Right now, 1.7 million New Yorkers are using food stamps to help make ends meet. Their incomes have been decimated by job losses and rising costs, and food stamps supplement stretched budgets, putting food on the table for children, seniors and other vulnerable populations.
At the Food Bank, we recognize that federal benefits like food stamps are a key piece of the hunger safety net, and it is critical that we do everything we can to connect low-income New Yorkers to the program. That’s why income support is an integral part of our mission, and why we work with our network to raise awareness of food stamps and help eligible households apply. As people reach out for help in increasing numbers, we’re ensuring that they are offered a full range of services.
I am grateful to know that despite the staggering levels of need we face, struggling families and individuals can find compassion and respect at food assistance organizations all over the city. Rabbi Shaul Shimon Deutsch, of Food Bank network member Oneg Shabbos, puts it best, saying, “Numbers are important, but what’s more important is that every number has a face.”
We encourage all of our supporters to put a face to these numbers by volunteering at one of the approximately 1,000 food assistance programs in our citywide network and meeting some of the wonderful people they serve. You can also “meet” some of these New Yorkers right now — including Jeff, who has had trouble finding work since an injury and whose kids actually get excited over broccoli — by reading our online Meet the People We Help stories.
*The following updates Dr. Cabrera's statement of August 6.
Within the past week, both houses of Congress passed legislation that will rob the Food Stamp Program (SNAP) of billions of dollars in order to provide aid for Medicaid and education programs. A Senate vote to reduce food stamp benefits by billions more to pay for child nutrition programs now awaits approval by the House. It is regrettable that these votes are being touted as a victory.
There is no question that our health care, education and child nutrition programs need adequate funding. But our public health care system, public education system and food stamps all serve the same population, and by taking money away from any one of these programs to fund another, Congress is playing a shell game that low-income Americans will always lose.
In fact, Congress is undermining its own goals: a person will not remain in good health if he or she cannot afford a healthy diet; and a child who goes to school hungry will not learn. Low-income families struggling to put food on the table will only find themselves one step closer to a food pantry or soup kitchen door at a time when emergency food resources are already scarce.
Funding services at the expense of those most in need cannot be the answer. It is the worst example of robbing Peter to pay Paul. While it is imperative that Congress find funding for health care programs, public schools and nutrition assistance programs, this funding must not come from other programs and services low-income people rely on. Congress must rectify these misguided funding proposals immediately.
Of course, no matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow, and I hope that in time we will begin to see signs of relief after such a long and brutal economic storm. For now, however, there is still a real and immediate need that must be met. The troubled economy has tried everyone’s resilience — from the city’s poorest, who have struggled with adversity and found themselves fighting even harder to survive, to the newly unemployed, who have turned to food stamps and food pantries for the first time.
I have worked with the Food Bank for more than 20 years to make sure that each of those individuals finds help when he or she needs it. Together, the Food Bank, our network and our supporters like you have worked hard to keep New Yorkers from falling through the cracks — New Yorkers like Alberta, a mother and retiree who came to St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in the Bronx for emergency food and stayed to become a member of a community that supports and looks out for her. Or the many working families and individuals who turned to the Food Bank’s Tax Assistance Program this year — a simple initiative that brings millions of dollars in federal tax refunds into our city.
Your support and dedication help keep programs like these fully funded. The Food Bank is there for New Yorkers in need, and I am grateful to you for standing beside us.
April 18–24 marks Volunteer Appreciation Week, and I want to thank you for giving your time to the Food Bank For New York City — volunteers are an essential part of our year-round operations, and I am so grateful for your commitment.
You are making a difference for families and individuals in New York City, and your support couldn’t come at a better time: 93% of soup kitchens and food pantries are seeing an increase in first-time visitors. The Food Bank is the major supplier of food to our citywide network of approximately 1,000 food assistance programs, helping meet our neighbors’ immediate needs. Free tax assistance and food stamp outreach lay the groundwork for financial independence, and nutrition and health education helps New Yorkers access healthy, affordable food.
Your enthusiasm and generosity are an inspiration, and I am proud to be working alongside you in the fight to end hunger in New York City.
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.
Posted At: January 15, 2010 9:53 AM | Posted By: Food Bank
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Letter from Lucy
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.
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.
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
Posted At: August 3, 2009 11:33 AM | Posted By: Food Bank
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Letter from Lucy
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
Posted At: April 28, 2009 10:20 AM | Posted By: Food Bank
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Letter from Lucy
Dear Friends,
During these tough economic times, it is even more important for the Food Bank and our network of food assistance programs to find creative, cost-efficient means to best serve the 4 million New Yorkers who report difficulty affording food.
From our local involvement in hunger relief through our Community Kitchen, to making our voice heard on behalf of all city residents at a recent press conference to address the Child Care and Earned Income Tax Credits — the Food Bank knows that our greatest resource lies in the wholeness of our efforts.
The Food Bank’s online presence is more robust than ever and a comprehensive resource for supporters and those interested in joining the hunger-relief community. The Food Bank blog has so far proven to be an engaging addition to our Online Community, and another way to stay tapped into current news, as well as read compelling reflections from the front lines of our network.
At the Food Bank, we recognize that federal benefits like food stamps are a key piece of the hunger safety net, and it is critical that we do everything we can to connect low-income New Yorkers to the program. That’s why income support is an integral part of our mission, and why we work with our network to raise awareness of food stamps and help eligible households apply. As people reach out for help in increasing numbers, we’re ensuring that they are offered a full range of services.
Last year, the Food Bank had the privilege of hosting 15,000 
