Guides highlight free food sites citywide for Sandy victims and hungry New Yorkers
New York, NY- Today, the City Council and the New York City Coalition Against Hunger released citywide and neighborhood-specific guides to help low-income New Yorkers and those impacted by Hurricane Sandy learn how to obtain free and low-cost food. The pocket-sized booklets, made possible with $40,000 in funding from the Council, include comprehensive information on food pantries, soup kitchens, federal nutrition assistance programs, senior meal sites, farmers markets and other resources available to assist New Yorkers in need.
The guides, available in English – and, in some neighborhoods, in Spanish and Chinese – will provide detailed information for select neighborhoods. Both the citywide and neighborhood-specific guides feature user-friendly eligibility charts and maps of resources.
“Hurricane Sandy has swelled the ranks of New Yorkers facing food insecurity, and the release of these guides comes at a critical time. Sandy was also a forceful reminder of the need to protect and support the emergency food system that serves our most vulnerable,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “These easy-to-use guides will help struggling New Yorkers find out where they can obtain free and low-cost food. I thank Joel Berg and the New York City Coalition Against Hunger for collaborating with the Council to create this vital resource.”
Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger said, “We are grateful to Speaker Quinn and the Council for funding these vital resources to aid the most vulnerable New Yorkers. These guides concretely show people in need exactly how and where they can get help. These guides can be food life preservers for those still suffering from the impacts of Sandy and the continued economic downturn.”
“It’s heartbreaking that the number of families that go without food has grown in our City, which started with the economic downfall and now Sandy,” said Council Member Annabel Palma, Chair of the Committee on General Welfare. “I’m proud and grateful for the strong leadership shown by the Speaker and the dedication of the Coalition Against Hunger by creating this food resource guide. Many families recovering from Sandy and those that previously knew food insecurity will most certainly benefit from this vital resource.”
Guidelines from the Council’s FoodWorks initiative largely helped to shape this new resource. The unprecedented initiative sets a bold vision for a more sustainable food system, addressing issues at each of its phases: agricultural production, processing, distribution, consumption and post-consumption. The plan also includes a significant focus on reducing hunger and food insecurity in the city, which now affects 1.5 million residents, including half a million children.
The guides can be viewed and download at nyccah.org/get-food/food-assistance-guides. Hard copies are also available at various community-based organizations and public library branches citywide. Individuals, social service agencies and businesses can obtain individual or bulk hard copies of the citywide or neighborhood guides by emailing guides@nyccah.org or calling (212) 825-0028 ext. 216.
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