SERVING THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
Food Bank For New York City is proud to serve ALL New Yorkers, including the LGBTQ+ community. We recognize these neighbors face unique circumstances that can leave them vulnerable to food insecurity and poverty. Food Bank serves New Yorkers through our network of charities, including the following organizations that provide food and direct services to the LGBTQ+ community.
FOOD INSECURITY & POVERTY
Food insecurity among LGBT adults in the United States is more than double the national food insecurity rate.
Single LGBT adults with children are 3 times as likely to have incomes near the poverty line as non-LGBT adults with children.
Married or partnered LGBT adults with children are 2 times as likely to have incomes near the poverty line as non-LGBT adults with children.
Sources: Food Insecurity and SNAP Participation in the LGBT Community. The Williams Institute, July 2016; New Patterns of Poverty in the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community. The Williams Institute, June 2013; 2012 Gallup Poll, The Williams Institute.
Making an impact
In honor of Pride month and the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, we highlight the many ways Food Bank For New York City and its network of soup kitchens and food pantries serves ALL New Yorkers, including Jovanna, a 61-year old transgender woman from the Bronx who relies on St. Ann’s Corner of Harm Reduction for community support and other resources.
MEET JOVANNA
I was homeless for about 15 years. At times, I would live on the street. I had no access to food stamps and had to rely on soup kitchens and pantries. At one point, I had missed so many meals that I had to spend two weeks in the hospital.
Currently, I have an apartment thanks to resources I received from St. Ann’s. I’ve been in my apartment for three years. I came to St. Ann’s for housing assistance and community through its Rainbow program. I knew that they worked with members of the transgender community.
Food security a huge issue for other transgender and gender-nonconforming people. I always come across members that are looking for food. We need more outreach and awareness. Knowing that there are programs and services for those in need would be a help.
Pride Month is important to me because the LGBT+ community is finally getting recognized. We are getting our rights and respect, making advances in society. We have an opportunity to celebrate ourselves. We have nothing to be ashamed about.
MEET NANDO
I am the Care Coordinator for the Ryan White Supporter Services Program at St. Ann’s Corner of Harm Reduction. Hunger is a prevalent problem within the LGBT community, especially in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx. St. Anne’s offer care services including supportive counseling and family stabilization for individuals with HIV; syringe access; women’s health; mental health; HEP-C; outreach and meals. LGBT guests come daily for the free breakfast and lunch which is prepared with the food secured from Food Bank For New York City. Through the meals program, SACHR provides an average of 160 meals per day. All of the food is made from scratch, with no frozen or ready-made ingredients. We also offer special holiday dinners throughout the year on Thanksgiving and Christmas.Guests who visit our food pantry and soup kitchen do so because of low income and lack of financial services. Unfortunately, many guests have to choose between affording their medications and providing themselves with a meal. SACHR steps in when guests have nowhere else to turn for help. Being able to serve the LGBT community is very rewarding. We’re able to create a community that promotes self-confidence, self-awareness and HIV prevention.
Guests are able to tap into their strengths and utilize the best parts of them in a positive way. Food helps me do my job. Before I can counsel a client, I need to make sure they’re not hungry. Providing my clients with a meal establishes the foundation of a relationship. Pride is important to me because it is a time to celebrate who we are and the achievements we’ve made together, giving a voice to the voiceless.
MEET SEAN
I’ve been coming to St. Ann’s Corner of Harm Reduction since 2016. In the LGBT community, malnutrition is a reality. Soup kitchens and food pantries like St. Ann’s provide meals when our funds are low. Since guests visit regularly, they are familiar with one another and everyone respects each other. Although times may be tough, we don’t have to worry about fighting over food.
Pride is important to me because it is a time to celebrate how far we’ve come as a community. A time to enjoy the freedom of being our authentic selves.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
IRIS HOUSE
Iris House, a member since 2009, saves lives through comprehensive support, prevention and education services for women, families, and under-served populations affected by HIV/AIDS and other health disparities. They provide meals to their guests using food secured through Food Bank For New York City.
Location:
2348 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard
(7TH Avenue between 137th and 138th Street)
New York, NY 10030
Phone: 646.548.0100
The Jewish Community Council of Pelham Parkway
The Jewish Community Council of Pelham Parkway, a member since 2014, strives to strengthen community life in the Pelham Parkway section of the Bronx. One way they do this is by providing services to residents in need. They provide meals through their pantry from food secured by Food Bank For New York City.
Location:
2157 Holland Avenue
Bronx, NY 10462
Safe Horizon
Safe Horizon provides assistance, advocacy, and support to victims who have experienced domestic violence, youth homelessness and other crimes. Safe Horizon provides meals to their guests using food secured from us by operating a pantry and providing breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Location:
53 Park Ave. #1
New York, NY 10035
Phone: 1-800-621-4673
SAGE Advocacy & Services for LGBT Elders
SAGE provides services ranging from pantry shopping and dinner meals to benefit access to LGBT seniors. SAGE, a member with Food Bank since 2014, uses the food through their pantry and dinner meals program.
Location:
305 7TH Avenue
15th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212.741.2247
St. Ann’s Corner of Harm Reduction
St. Anne’s Corner of Harm Reduction, a member since 2008, provides non-judgmental quality access to persons for whom the social stigma attached to illicit drug use, their HIV/HCV status, poverty, race, gender identity, homelessness, and their many health problems, undermines their ability to access the services they require and deserve. They provide meals to their guests using food secured through Food Bank For New York City.
Location:
886 Westchester Ave.
Bronx, NY 10459
Phone: 718.585.5544
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Food Bank works on several fronts to eliminate hunger in New York City. The scale of our efforts is only possible because of our caring supporters. Gifts of time, talent, and treasure help to advance our mission.
