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Contact: DKC Public Relations at foodbanknyc@dkcnews.com
Food Bank For NYC Receives $100K Equitable Food Access Grant from Starbucks to Address Food Insecurity in BIPOC Communities
New York, NY, July 26th, 2021 – Food Bank received a $100,000 equitable food access grant from Starbucks to help increase access to nutritious food among households with individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) residing in communities experiencing high food insecurity rates in New York City. Food Bank will use this grant to engage local communities to better understand the barriers to accessing food and will support new or expand existing interventions that can help overcome these obstacles.
“As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, in NYC alone, food insecurity has increased by 44 percent. That’s 1.6 million New Yorkers who are struggling each and every day to feed themselves and their families,” says Leslie Gordon, President and CEO of Food Bank For NYC. “We are proud to work with Starbucks toward our shared goals of addressing the root causes of hunger. With this grant, we’ll be able to continue to identify and address racial disparities in our communities.”
Food Bank will work with our local Starbuck Community store to train Starbucks employees in SNAP enrollment and, as appropriate, have Starbucks employees assist Food Bank with direct food distributions that bring nutritious and culturally relevant foods to community residents.
“For the last 50 years and still today, Starbucks believes it is our role and responsibility to help strengthen the communities we serve, and in partnership with Feeding America, we are tackling hunger with a focus on equity,” said Camille Hymes, Vice President of Community Impact at Starbucks. “The equitable food access grants are a unique opportunity to combine efforts with our Community Stores across the country, which are specifically designed to support historically under-resourced communities through local partnerships and economic opportunity, to increase access to nutritious meals for those that need it most.”
Food Bank, a member of the Feeding America® network, is one of 16 food banks to receive this funding from Starbucks. Food Bank was identified based on the location of a Starbucks Community Store which are committed to economic development and opportunity in historically under-resourced communities. Since 2016, Starbucks has helped to provide more than 27 million meals* to people facing hunger through its FoodShare program in partnership with Feeding America. The company has also invested $2.69 million in mobile pantry programs across the country since 2019.
To learn more about how you can join the fight to end hunger, visit foodbankfornyc.org
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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 raising awareness and engagement among all New Yorkers. Through its network of more than 1,000 charities and schools citywide, Food Bank provided more than 80 million free meals last year for 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 $36 million each year into the pockets of New Yorkers, helping them to afford food and achieve greater dignity and independence. Food Bank’s nutrition education programs and services empower more than 50,000 children, teens and adults 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).