Since 1983, Food Bank For New York City has been the city’s major hunger-relief organisation working to end hunger throughout the five boroughs. Nearly one in five New Yorkers relies on Food Bank for food and other resources. 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.
By mid-June 2020, Food Bank had distributed nearly 21 million meals across the city since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, which is an increase of 20 percent in overall food distribution compared to the same period last year. With the economic shutdown putting many people out of work and rapidly increasing the need for assistance, the demand on the emergency food network has surged.
New York Common Pantry (NYCP) works toward the reduction of hunger and food insecurity through an array of programmes that function to establish long-term independence for those they serve. Their whole-person approach starts with food provision through the distribution of nutritious, fresh food pantry packages in Choice Pantry and hearty balanced breakfast and dinner in the Hot Meals programme. Supplemental food is provided to seniors aged 60 and older through Nourish.
NYCP goes further to address the reasons for food insecurity with case management services through the help of Help 365, which assists Pantry visitors in gaining access to resources, and Project Dignity, which connects homeless visitors to resources. The third vital element in the charity’s whole-person approach is education offered through its Live Healthy! programme. Live Healthy! teaches children and adults about the importance of a nutritionally sound diet and active living, as well as provides them with the skills necessary to make healthier choices for their families.
New York Common Pantry impact during the Covid pandemic (as of October 2020):
3,285,188
meals distributed
150,030
individuals served
91,665
seniors served
3,827
new guests
3i’s donation will go towards the New York Common Pantry food programmes, which provide grocery packages, hot meals, seniors groceries; Help 365 who assist individuals and families to access the benefits they are entitled to; and Live Healthy! which provides direct nutrition education, recipes and farm shares to individuals and families who are food insecure.
"We've seen a dramatic increase in need since the pandemic started in NYC in March 2020. Support from partners like 3i means we are able to keep our doors open, keep fresh produce and shelf stable foods in our pantries, and keep distributing groceries and hot meals to our neighbors throughout the city. We could not do it without partners like 3i."
Stephen Grimaldi, Executive Director NYCP
Founded in 1988, Robin Hood finds, fuels and creates the most impactful and scalable solutions lifting families out of poverty in New York City, with models that can work across the country. In 2020, Robin Hood will invest nearly $200 million to provide COVID relief, legal services, housing, meals, workforce development training, education programmes and more to families in poverty in New York City. Robin Hood tracks every programme with rigorous metrics, and since Robin Hood’s Board of Directors covers all overheads, 100 percent of every donation goes directly to the poverty fight.
3i made a donation to The Robin Hood Relief Fund, which is helping New Yorkers by supporting nonprofit organisations on the frontlines. 100 percent of donations will provide emergency support through food, housing, job security and more.