BRONX, NEW YORK — Two days before its 43rd anniversary, Food Bank For NYC did what it’s always done: showed up when our city needs us most.
On Sunday, staff gathered at the Hunts Point warehouse for our Founder’s Day Repack event — forming assembly lines, moving with purpose — to pack more than 500 emergency grocery bags for TSA workers impacted by the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown. Each bag was filled with fresh produce and pantry staples, including products from Goya, for families facing real financial strain with no end in sight.
TSA workers kept our airports safe. They reported to work. And they missed two consecutive paychecks. Many faced impossible choices: rent or groceries, a prescription or the electric bill. Some had to take on debt, fall behind on bills, or even sell plasma just to make ends meet. These are hardworking public servants who did nothing wrong and still found themselves in need.
This day of action was a reminder: when New Yorkers come together — in warehouse assembly lines, at airport gates, across borough lines — no one has to face hunger alone. That’s exactly why we exist.
This effort came together thanks to the generosity of our partners. Stop & Shop provided the financial support that made the food possible. Delta Air Lines helped distribute bags directly at JFK — reaching workers on the job, where they needed it most. That kind of coordination matters. It’s the difference between intention and impact.
This isn’t the first time Food Bank For NYC has mobilized during a shutdown. We were here for the 43-day shutdown last year too. Showing up in crisis isn’t a program. It’s who we are.
For 43 years, Food Bank For NYC has worked to make sure every New Yorker has access to the food and resources they need to thrive — not someday, not eventually. Now. Because no one who shows up to work, who plays by the rules, who keeps this city moving, should ever have to choose between feeding their family and keeping the lights on.
