New York—Today, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Council Member Eric Ulrich visited the Borden Avenue Veterans Residence to donate over 1,000 pounds of donated food collected during the New York City Council’s Veteran’s Food Drive in partnership with the New York City Food Bank.
Veterans are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity and hunger due to the unique challenges they face as service members and the impact of service on their families. Across the country, including here in New York City, service members and their families increasingly lack access to affordable, nutritious food. As a result, many have turned to food pantries and soup kitchens.

Last year, the Food Bank of NYC reported that 70,000 veterans in New York City, nearly 30% of the total veteran population, relied on soup kitchens and food pantries to avoid going hungry. Households with veterans have reported skipping meals, eating smaller meals, purchasing less food, and serving fewer family members at dinnertime to save money. Furthermore, financial constraints have forced veteran families to sacrifice food quality. Military families have been forced to purchase less healthy food, less fruit and vegetables, less dairy products, and less meat, poultry and fish.

“As New Yorkers celebrate this holiday season with family and friends, it’s important that we remember the veterans who put their lives on the line for our country and our freedom,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “Many of these brave men and women are in need of a hot meal and a safe place to call home. The New York City Council Veterans Food Drive ensured that the Borden Avenue Veterans Residence will be able to provide wholesome, nutritious meals to the hundreds of veterans they serve every day. I thank Council Member Ulrich, Council Member Levin, and our partners at the New York City Food Bank for their tireless dedication to combating hunger in our city and all the New Yorkers who donated to this crucial effort.”

“This drive will help ensure that kitchens and pantries around the city are equipped to meet demand from veterans and their families going into the holiday season,” said Councilman Eric Ulrich, Chair of the Committee on Veterans. “It’s truly appalling that a third of the city’s veterans go hungry or struggle to simply make ends meet. I am hopeful that this drive will help stock the shelves and raise awareness about this issue. We must do more to help our vets, especially those who have fallen on hard times.”
“This season we give thanks, especially to those who have served and sacrificed so much for our country,” said Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Gilbert Taylor. “As this city works toward a goal of ending veteran homelessness by the end of 2015, I would like to thank Speaker Mark-Viverito, the Council, and its constituents for their generous donations of non-perishable food to the Borden Veterans Residence.”
“It is important that we recognize the sacrifices made by our veterans and that we do everything we can to help veterans in need,” said Council Member Stephen Levin, Chair of the Committee on General Welfare. “By working together, the City Council and New Yorkers from all five boroughs are helping veterans in need this holiday season. Thanks to Speaker Mark-Viverito, Council Member Ulrich, and all of the Council Members who participated in this food drive, and for their work on this important issue.”
“This holiday season Council Members from around New York City have joined efforts to give back to some of the City’s most vulnerable servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives to fight for our freedom,” said New York City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “I applaud Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Council Members Eric Ulrich and Steve Levin as well as all my colleagues for initiating this thoughtful holiday food drive and for creating a coalition to address this very serious need. With the donations we have secured, and with more items on the way, the City Council is showing its commitment to making sure our City’s veterans do not go hungry this holiday season.”
“ICL is deeply appreciative of the efforts of Speaker Mark- Viverito and Councilman Ulrich to organize a food drive to benefit the veterans residing at ICL Borden Avenue Veterans Residence. We also appreciate the Food Bank of NY delivering the more than 1,000 pounds of food contributions,” said David Woodlock, CEO, ICL. “We are proud and honored to provide safe housing and critical health resources for our nation’s heroes – and the acknowledgement and support of our City officials is invaluable to this mission.”
“On behalf of the 70,000 veterans in New York City who rely on food pantries and soup kitchens, we thank the City Council for taking action and inspiring our fellow New Yorkers to such generosity,” said Triada Stampas, Food Bank For New York City Vice President for Research and Public Affairs. “This is an incredible demonstration of our city’s gratitude and compassion for those who selflessly served our country. We are proud to stand with Speaker Mark-Viverito, Council Member Ulrich, Council Member Levin and all the Council Members who participated in this citywide effort – and we pledge to continue to work in partnership to create a city where food drives like this are not necessary.”
“Project Renewal is thrilled and grateful to receive Council Member Eric Ulrich’s generous donation of food items that his office collected during the City Council-wide Veterans Food Drive. This food will help feed veterans in our programs, who have served our country bravely and to whom we owe so much. Thank you to Council Member Ulrich, his constituents who donated generously, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and all the Council Members and New Yorkers who have supported veterans by contributing to the Food Drive,” said Project Renewal President and CEO Mitchell Netburn.
Nationwide, according to Feeding America’s Hunger in America 2014 report, 620,000 families that include at least one soldier, reservist, or guardsman seek aid from food pantries and other charitable programs across the country. An additional 2.37 million households that have at least one veteran receive assistance from food pantries.

In the Fiscal Year 2015 budget, the New York City Council allocated $400,000 in funding for veteran job placement, legal services, mental health services, community development, and services for women veterans. The New York City Council also allocated $2.315 million in FY 2015 to food security initiatives.
###