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The following statement is attributable to Margarette Purvis, President and CEO of Food Bank For New York City, in response to the Fiscal Year 2019 Executive Budget for New York City, which proposes a cut to food funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) of $7.8 million:
“On behalf of the 1.5 million New Yorkers served by our network of 1,000 charities, community-based organizations and schools, I share our collective disappointment in the failure of the Administration to restore funding to the City’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP). EFAP is a vital source of food for New Yorkers who rely on food pantries and soup kitchens, providing a year-round supply of a full complement of nutritious food.
“The funding included in this Executive Budget would represent a loss of 6.8 million meals for the most vulnerable of our neighbors, including hundreds of thousands of seniors and children, at a time when more than half of food pantries and soup kitchens have reported food shortages. As the Administration and the City Council enter into negotiations to finalize the city budget for the coming fiscal year, we urge them to incorporate a $22 million baseline allocation for food to ensure EFAP can more effectively serve one of our city’s most pressing needs.”
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About Food Bank For New York City:
Food Bank For New York City has been the city’s major hunger-relief organization working to end hunger throughout the five boroughs for 35 years. 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 provides food for more than 62.5 million free meals 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 more than $150 million each year into the pockets of New Yorkers, helping them to afford food and achieve greater dignity and independence. In addition, Food Bank’s nutrition education programs and services empower more than 50,000 children, teens and adults to sustain a healthy diet on a low budget. To learn more about how you can help, please visit foodbanknyc.org. Follow us on Facebook (FoodBank4NYC), Twitter (@FoodBank4NYC) and Instagram (FoodBank4NYC).