NEW YORK — Food Bank For New York City, along with our food assistance partners and allies, extends our gratitude to Mayor Adams, City Council Speaker Adams, Deputy Speaker Ayala, Finance Chair Brannan, and all City leaders for working to finalize the FY25 New York City Budget and restoring funding for the Community Food Connection program. This critical program provides food for community organizations across all five boroughs.
We also applaud our city’s leaders for supporting food and services for older adults, expanding MyCity, the one-stop shop portal for New York City services and benefits, to include childcare assistance, helping non-profits provide home delivered meals, and continuing to support the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy. As an organization that serves not only food pantries and soup kitchens, but also provides senior services, benefits access and nutrition education, Food Bank and our partners in every corner of New York City know the importance of these critical investments.
As we continue to learn more about the details of the FY25 Budget, Food Bank recognizes that our city’s budget isn’t just numbers. It represents how our city can address the affordability crisis for families like Jessica, one of Food Bank’s clients and mother of three who relies on us to help her get nutritious and healthy food for her family of five. With more than 1 in 10 NYC residents experiencing food insecurity and 50 percent of households unable to meet their needs, the stakes could not be higher.
We also extend our deepest thanks to all advocates and coalition members for their continued efforts toward achieving a just budget that adequately serves our communities. We remain committed to collaborating with city officials, community partners, and dedicated advocates to secure necessary funding for food assistance programs. We extend our deepest thanks to all advocates and coalition members for their continued efforts toward achieving a just budget that adequately serves our communities. Establishing consistent food and operational funding is crucial for food pantries and soup kitchens as visits to the food assistance network have surged by up to 80% compared to pre-pandemic levels. We must commit to baselining critical funding to enable the food assistance network to meet increasing demands so that families facing food insecurity and rising food costs receive the support they urgently need.
###
About Food Bank
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.