Food Bank will bring traditional and culturally relevant foods to families and individuals’ homes this holiday season amidst the rising need and inflation
(November 21, 2022, New York, NY) – As inflation continues to affect many families and individuals across the country, there continues to be a growing need at food banks and soup kitchens across the country, especially in New York City where currently nearly 1.6 million New Yorkers are food insecure and pantry lines have grown 10% year over year since the start of the pandemic. With the holidays fast approaching, New Yorkers are feeling the pressure and are forced to make difficult decisions; whether to have a meal and go food shopping, pay rent, or handle medical needs during what’s meant to be the happiest time of the year. As part of Food Bank For New York City’s continued mission to fight food insecurity for all New Yorkers, the 2022 holiday season is a critical time to meet the needs and demands of those we proudly serve throughout the year.
This holiday season, Food Bank will donate a variety of traditional turkeys and chicken at several distributions and activations throughout the five boroughs.
- 25,806 turkeys along with 32,400 chicken roasters were donated by Broccoli Associates Inc.
- 11,200 Nourish NY chicken roasters were donated by Morning Star Poultry.
- 4,000 halal whole chickens and 7,500 Nourish NY halal whole chickens were donated by Mosner Family Brand.
- 2,500 turkeys were donated by Stop & Shop, one of Food Bank’s long-standing partners.
- 2,000 kosher roasters were donated by Fancy Foods.
- 525 kosher turkeys were donated by KJ Poultry.
As the cultural capital of the world, New York City neighborhoods are filled with rich culture and diversity, and Food Bank wants to ensure food choices are reflective across the communities that are served not just during the holiday season—but year-round. Being at the heart of a network of nearly 800 member organizations, and with the help of partners and donors to help feed New Yorkers, Food Bank will bring holiday spirit into many homes. At many of these distributions, Food Bank will also be providing fresh produce and shelf stable items relevant to a Thanksgiving meal.
“Food is more than just energy, it has personal meaning and its sometimes the only connection people have to their homes,” said Leslie Gordon, President and CEO of Food Bank For New York City. “By not only providing traditional turkey and chickens to surrounding New York communities with high populations of food insecurity, and also being able to distribute kosher and halal meats, Food Bank aims to ensure New Yorkers have access to foods that affirm who they are and where they come from.”
“Stop & Shop is honored to support Food Bank For New York City’s ongoing efforts to address and combat food insecurity across the five boroughs,” said Stefanie Shuman, Stop & Shop’s External Communications Manager. “Their work is essential, especially during the holiday season, and we are proud to donate our resources and time to assist.”
As part of these efforts to help feed New Yorkers in need, this holiday season, Food Bank hosted the following distributions to help bring some holiday cheer into the homes of those in need:
- November 15th Stop & Shop, The New York Giants, and Bronx Borough President, Vanessa L. Gibson, participated in Food Bank’s annual Turkey Express in the Bronx.
- November 17th Stop & Shop along with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso participated in Food Bank’s turkey express in Brooklyn (Brownsville area).
- November 18th Food Bank distributed turkeys and chickens at the Community Kitchen and Pantry in West Harlem to seniors and those who have visited the pantry 10 out of the 12 months this year.
- November 21st, The New York Yankees will participate in a distribution in the Bronx.
- November 22nd The New York Jets will be helping with Turkey distributions and meal preparation at Food Bank’s Community Kitchen and Pantry.
“With Thanksgiving Day just around the corner, we are excited and pleased to join Food Bank For New York City who is committed to doing their part to address food insecurity by donating 83,000 turkeys and chickens to 700 community-based organizations that will help our most vulnerable residents during the holiday season,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “I want to thank Food Bank For New York City’s President and CEO, Leslie Gordon, the NY Giants, and Stop & Shop for their commitment to combatting hunger in our borough.”
“Once again, Food Bank For New York City is proving what it really means to be a New Yorker: showing up for our neighbors, providing for our families, and ensuring everyone who calls this city home can enjoy in the holiday cheer,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Far too many in our communities are struggling with rising costs of living, and the holiday season can add yet another financial pressure rather than being a time of peace and joy. As we get to work on the long-term solutions that will uplift families for generations, I am deeply grateful for Food Bank’s dedication to providing New Yorkers with culturally relevant foods and fighting food insecurity in every corner of our city.”
In addition to these ticketed distributions, Food Bank will also supply approximately 45 local soup kitchens and food pantries of its member network with turkeys and chickens that they can provide to their neighborhoods and communities.
Media Contact: Maddie Diaz, Food Bank For New York City Associate Director, Media Relations, MDiaz@foodbanknyc.org
About Food Bank for New York City
Food Bank For New York City is the largest hunger relief organization of the city fighting food insecurity on the ground since 1983. By partnering with over 800 soup kitchens, food pantries, and campus partners across the five boroughs, Food Bank is able to make a direct impact in the communities that need it most, providing some 1.4 billion meals to New Yorkers since its founding. But food alone can’t solve hunger. That’s why Food Bank employs a two-prong approach of Community Nourishment programming (to provide immediate and reliable access to food today) with Economic Empowerment programming (to equip people with the tools they need to achieve food security into tomorrow and beyond). All of these services – from grab-and-go pantry bags to hot meals, tax filing assistance, SNAP enrollment, nutrition education, and financial empowerment workshops – are free and available to anyone who needs them. To learn more about Food Bank’s mission to dignify, nourish, and empower ALL New Yorkers facing food insecurity, visit foodbanknyc.org.