On Thursday, September 14th, Food Bank hosted over 100 PepsiCo. volunteers as part of our Go Orange To End Hunger campaign. In conjunction with the PepsiCo. Feeds America initiative, volunteers were deployed across the country with the company’s marquee event being held at our warehouse in Hunts Point. Deborah Rosado Shaw, SVP, Chief Global Diversity & Engagement Officer for PepsiCo., Kelli Walker, Director, Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America and Food Bank For New York City’s own Dan Cinquemani, Vice President of Food Distribution spoke to the volunteers about the need and impact of their efforts. Ms. Shaw’s remarks about growing up in the Bronx and hosting a food pantry in the church where her father was a minister especially resonated with the group and illustrated the history of hunger in the area.
Food Bank’s 90,000 sq.ft. warehouse collects, safely stores, and efficiently distributes 62 million meals each year to our network of over 1,000 member agencies citywide. Volunteers are vital to helping us distribute food each year to New Yorkers in need. Eighty-five PepsiCo. volunteers sorted donated items and repacked more than 5,830 meals for hungry New Yorkers!
At our Community Kitchen and Pantry, 20 volunteers revitalized the garden that provides fresh ingredients for meal services. Volunteers harvested vegetables and prepped the garden for next year’s growing season. Additionally, the volunteers laid down pavers and cleared the garden area of debris, making it more accessible for the seniors who volunteer their time in the space.
Food Bank For New York City is not able to serve New Yorkers in need without the vital support of volunteers. We are very grateful to Go Orange supporters like PepsiCo. and our other corporate supporters for their dedication to fighting hunger.