NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2024 — Food Bank For New York City announced today that it will support community partners and school pantry programs in their efforts to increase food choices for neighbors in the Bronx and Brooklyn with a $149,250 grant from the Morgan Stanley Foundation. This approach offers families with children, teens, and children in communities of color, increased choice among available foods or food boxes at Food Bank For New York City’s agency partners or program sites, providing nutritious options and ensuring access to foods aligned with preferences and dietary requirements.
Now in its third year, this national grant is focused on helping the food bank reduce stigma and offer neighbors the opportunity to choose their preferred foods with dignity. In addition, the Food Bank For New York City will be using this grant to gather feedback from neighbors to design opportunities that offer more choice during food distributions at the community partner or school pantry programs.
Food insecurity exists in every county, parish, and borough in the United States. It impacts people of all ages, races, ethnicities, abilities and beliefs. In the Bronx, 1 in 6 people, including 1 in 3 children, face hunger while in Brooklyn, 1 in 7 people, including 1 in 4 children, face hunger. Food Bank For New York City, a member of the Feeding America® network, is one of eleven partner food banks receiving this funding from the Morgan Stanley Foundation. It is projected that Food Bank For New York City will work with school pantry programs in the Bronx and Brooklyn to offer more choice based on neighbor input and engagement.
“We are so proud to be partnering with the Morgan Stanley Foundation to help expand food choices for New Yorkers in Brooklyn and The Bronx,” said Food Bank For New York City President & CEO Leslie Gordon. “Serving with dignity means serving with choice, so we are thrilled to help our community partners and school pantries serve even more culturally relevant food options that meet the actual needs of their neighbors. Together, we can empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good.”
Feeding America will provide food banks and partner programs with resources and technical assistance to support them in increasing the amount of food choices provided to neighbors. In addition, Feeding America will be a thought partner in encouraging creativity and innovation among partner programs to offer more choice, increase access to nutritious, preferred foods, reduce stigma and create a more dignified experience for neighbors accessing community food resources.
The Morgan Stanley Foundation has a long-standing commitment to supporting children’s health in communities across the country, with a focus on hunger relief as a key component of helping children thrive. The Foundation has provided more than $41 million over the last decade to Feeding America to support local hunger-relief programs that deliver food assistance and nutritious meals to children and families.
“The Feeding America network of food banks is making a true difference for people facing food insecurity in communities across the United States,” said Joan Steinberg, Global Head of Philanthropy at Morgan Stanley and President of the Morgan Stanley Foundation. “We are proud to support this innovative approach to offer increased food choice, greater access to nutritious options for families and helping to reduce stigma, particularly during these especially challenging times.”
To learn more about how you can help end hunger, visit www.foodbanknyc.org.
About Food Bank For New York City
Driven by our mission to empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good, we harness the collective power of our network of food providers, partners, and volunteers to activate the right resources, supports, and expertise across the five boroughs. Our work with more than 800 soup kitchens, food pantries, and campus partners provides immediate and reliable access to food and nutrition education, while our economic empowerment programs give people the tools and know-how to improve their financial wellness. Community by community, we work together to make progress on a more hopeful, dignified, and equitable future for all.
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