The Financial Crisis & the Food Bank

Lucy Cabrera President and CEO

We are deeply concerned about the impact that the financial crisis and skyrocketing food costs will have on all New Yorkers. While the full affects of these economic factors are not yet fully known, we feel certain about two things — the number of New Yorkers in need of assistance will surely rise, and the Food Bank For New York City will be there to help them.

According to new Food Bank research, the number of New Yorkers struggling to afford food for themselves and their families has doubled to 4 million since 2003. Recent research has additionally shown that 20 percent of New Yorkers report they would not be able to afford food immediately after losing their household income. Meanwhile, unemployment has reached a 26-year high and food shortages persist at our Bronx warehouse.

As the Food Bank responds to meet a rising level of need, we strive to utilize our full range of services to reach those who need assistance. In 2008, as the economic crisis unfolded, the Food Bank greatly increased our reach by adding Financial Empowerment, Direct Service and Education & Nutrition Programs to the services we offer New Yorkers in need.

This expansion of services means that, as the city's major hunger-relief organization, we are addressing food poverty from every angle. In addition to our role as the major source of food for a network of more than 1,000 food assistance programs, our expanded services include:

• our Free Tax Assistance Program, which last year helped New Yorkers obtain more than $103 million in tax credits, tax returns and stimulus payments — money that everyone will be counting on again this spring;
• and our Food Stamp Prescreening & Outreach Program; which helps New Yorkers in low-income neighborhoods access federal aid they are entitled to in more than 200 locations in low income neighborhoods.

We're reaching more people, more often with more services and, thus, are better able to help those who rely on the Food Bank now and those who will turn to us perhaps in the coming months — perhaps for the first time in their lives. But in spite of our growth, we are grappling with a drop in donations, high food costs and limited resources. While we know times are tough for everyone, we can't forget that there are always people who have less.

Each day, the Food Bank helps hundreds of thousands of people in New York City move beyond food poverty. Your support helps empower individuals and communities to win the struggle against food poverty, and we ask that you please consider giving, volunteering and raising awareness to help those who are in need during the tough times ahead. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Lucy Cabrera, Ph.D.
President and CEO