BRONX, N.Y. — Five years ago to the day, Food Bank For New York City and the New York Yankees launched a Mobile Pantry distribution outside Yankee Stadium. This Tuesday morning, on the same patch of Bronx pavement, a new Ford Transit van pulled in to help keep food moving across the five boroughs.
Donated by Your Local Ford Stores, Ford Philanthropy, and Ford Motor Company, the van arrived during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. The timing wasn’t lost on anyone. Neither was the milestone: five years, one partnership, still going strong.
By the end of the day, 500 hardworking New York families walked away with fresh produce and shelf-stable groceries.
Our Mobile Pantry program bring food directly into communities, making groceries easier for New Yorkers to reach close to home. The new van will support the Food Bank For NYC Transportation Team as it delivers food and supplies to distributions and community partners throughout our city.
Built to Move 5,000 Pounds
The donation is part of Ford’s “Building Together” initiative, which connects Ford dealers with nonprofit organizations serving their local communities.
“September is Ford’s ‘Global Caring Month,’ and our global dealer network is stepping up to fight food insecurity in a substantial way,” said Jeb Schmehl, New York regional manager for Ford Motor Company. “The Ford Transit Van is a vehicle that powers New York. It’s a vehicle built to deliver—and that’s exactly what it will do for New Yorkers.”
Built for the work ahead, the van has a raised roof, custom shelving, secured storage bins and room to haul up to 5,000 pounds.
Five Years at Yankee Stadium
The Mobile Pantry at Yankee Stadium has run for half a decade, and the Yankees have been there since day one. This year, the Yankees helped connect Food Bank For NYC with Ford.
“Ford came to us and said they were looking to get more involved with activations,” said Brian Smith, New York Yankees senior vice president of corporate and community relations. “We knew it was the right introduction to make—and Ford took it and ran with it. This is just the beginning.”
A Personal Mission
For Food Bank For NYC truck driver Daniel Murray, this job isn’t just a route—it’s personal.
Murray has turned his own experience with hunger into a commitment to helping other New Yorkers keep food on their tables.
“I was put here for a mission,” Murray said. “I wanted to make a difference and see other people never go through that struggle.”
He knows exactly what the new van will mean for the work ahead.
“The attention to detail—you can store things in there more efficiently, and you can move around as a person standing up,” Murray said.
Food Bank For NYC thanks Ford Motor Company, Your Local Ford Stores, Ford Philanthropy and the New York Yankees for moving our mission forward.
Five years ago, a partnership pulled up outside Yankee Stadium and got to work. This week, it got a new set of wheels—and with Murray behind the wheel, the mission isn’t slowing down.
Want to step up with us? See how your company can partner with Food Bank For NYC.
