The month-long “One Mission. Five Boroughs. Feed All.” campaign continues today with a special charity dinner by Eater at Niche Niche to Support the local restaurant community impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
NEW YORK (September 17, 2021) – Today is National Hunger Action Day and Food Bank For New York City is urging all New Yorkers to stand up and fight back against food insecurity in New York City and across the country for National Hunger Action Day. As part of Food Bank’s 2021 Hunger Action Month campaign, “One Mission. Five Boroughs. Feed All.,” Food Bank and partners are leading a social media month of action for everyone to show and pledge their support to ending food insecurity. Since the beginning of September, Food Bank and Grubhub have partnered with corporations and organizations on a food distribution pop-up tour of fresh produce and shelf-stable pantry items to feed thousands of our neighbors in the five boroughs. Today, Food Bank is joining partner Eater at a special dinner event at restaurant Niche Niche to support the restaurant community across the city that has been severely impacted by COVID-19 and who even in these trying times have stepped up to support and feed first responders and other New Yorkers in need.
“National Hunger Action Day provides us with the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about food insecurity in the boroughs of New York City and the United States at large,” said Food Bank CEO & President Leslie Gordon. “In NYC alone, food insecurity has increased by 44 percent due to the ongoing pandemic – that’s 1.6 million New Yorkers struggling each and every day to feed themselves and their families. The time is now to join us in nourishing our neighbors all across the city so that no New Yorker ever has to wonder where their next meal is coming from.”
Participating entities in the month-long effort include Grubhub, iHeart Radio, Disney, Anthem, New York Yankees, New York Giants, New York Liberty, Lincoln Center, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Hospital. Through their combined efforts, partners continue to engage the community, raise awareness, and fight back against food insecurity in New York and beyond.
“We’re honored to partner with the Food Bank For New York City for the second year to fight the food insecurity crisis plaguing New Yorkers,” said Amy Healy, vice president of government relations at Grubhub. “We know we have a responsibility to make a real difference to help those who don’t know where they will get their next meal, and we’re proud to support the Food Bank’s efforts during Hunger Action Month and beyond.”
“We are happy to partner with the Food Bank For New York City to bring additional food resources to our patients and their families,” said Helen Arteaga Landaverde, MPH, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. “At a time when our community is still recovering economically from the devastating impact of COVID-19, the help of non-profit organizations like the Food Bank is both vital and necessary, and we are thankful for their support.”
“Those facing food insecurity face overwhelming obstacles, not just in getting through the day ahead of them, but in their pursuit of socioeconomic and educational progress,” said Brian Smith, Yankees Senior Vice President of Corporate/Community Relations. “The food allocation and support resources offered by the Food Bank For New York City provide countless New Yorkers their daily sustenance and a fighting chance at a better life. We are grateful for our partnership and are continually amazed to see the profound impact the organization has on families in our neighborhood and throughout the five boroughs. We hope that Hunger Action Day and Hunger Action Month shine needed spotlights on the things we can do as a community to see that no one has to worry where their next meal might come from.”
Established in 2008 by Feeding America, Hunger Action Month has served as a time to highlight food insecurity and the persistent and growing hunger crisis in the United States. In New York City alone, food insecurity has increased by 44%, in part due to economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in 1.6 million New Yorkers who are struggling to feed themselves and their families every day. As the largest hunger-relief organization in the city, Food Bank recognizes that in 2021, it’s more important than ever to address food insecurity and the multiple factors that contribute to this dire issue.
As New York City’s largest hunger-relief organization, Food Bank works to address food insecurity year-round through all of its services – from immediate food assistance to tax filing prep, SNAP enrollment, nutrition education, and financial empowerment workshops – so that New York residents not only have the food they need for today, but also have access to the tools they need to achieve stability into tomorrow and beyond.
This Hunger Action Day, and every day after, Food Bank For New York City encourages you to support our neighbors in need and end food insecurity for all.
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ABOUT FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY
Since 1983, Food Bank For New York City has been the city’s major hunger-relief organization working to end hunger throughout the five boroughs. Nearly one in five New Yorkers relies on Food Bank for food and other resources. Food Bank takes a strategic, multifaceted approach that provides meals and builds capacity in the neediest communities, while also raising awareness and engagement among all New Yorkers. Through its network of more than 800 soup kitchens, food pantries, and campus partners citywide, Food Bank provides nearly 80 million free meals per year to New Yorkers in need. Food Bank For New York City’s income support services, including food stamps (also known as SNAP) and free tax assistance for the working poor, put nearly $38 million into the pockets of New Yorkers last year, helping them to afford food and achieve greater dignity and independence. Food Bank’s nutrition education programs and services empower more than 20,000 children, teens, and young adults each year to sustain a healthy diet and active lifestyle on a limited budget. Working toward long-term solutions to food poverty, Food Bank develops policy and conducts research to inform community and government efforts. To learn more about how you can help, please visit foodbanknyc.org. Follow us on Facebook (FoodBank4NYC), Twitter (@FoodBank4NYC) and Instagram (@FoodBank4NYC)
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