FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | May 22, 2025

Press Contact: Mus Lamia | mlamia@council.nyc.gov |  Clio Rose | media@gothamfoodpantry.org

As hunger soars past pandemic levels and federal safety nets collapse, Gotham Food Pantry and CHiPS help keep Brooklyn families fed

Brooklyn, NY — In response to drastic federal cuts to hunger relief programs and rising need, today, Council Member Shahana Hanif announced $20,000 in discretionary funding earmarked in her FY26 budget to support two frontline organizations: Gotham Food Pantry and Community Help in Park Slope (CHiPS). Each organization will receive $10,000 to help meet the surging demand for food assistance in Brooklyn and to help cover costs previously covered by federal funding. 

These funds arrive at a critical time. Hunger rates have exceeded pandemic levels. New York City’s food banks, including Gotham Food Pantry and CHiPs, serve as a lifeline for many New Yorkers, but have faced significant challenges due to sudden disruptions in federal support, inflation, tariffs, and rising food costs. Earlier this year, Gotham Food Pantry reported that its transportation partner, funded by the USDA, had its funding frozen without notice, preventing them from transporting the food designated for Gotham Food Pantry’s distributions, including their bimonthly distribution at Gowanus Houses. This distribution assists between 150 and 500 residents, delivering up to 12,000 pounds of food each session. Council Member Hanif’s contribution of $10,000 will address this gap to ensure Gotham Food Pantry can continue its operations in Gowanus. 

CHiPS has been operating a bimonthly mobile pantry van out of Gowanus Houses since December 2023. Larger pantries, such as the West Side Campaign Against Hunger and The Campaign Against Hunger, have had to cut back on new registrations and reduce distributions, making neighborhood-based providers like CHiPS even more essential. In March, the USDA announced that it will end the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program after this fiscal year, which concludes in September. In New York, this program, known as New York Food for New York Families, has connected food distributors with small, historically marginalized farmers and is a critical source of funding that CHiPS relies on. Additionally,  bracing for broader operational challenges stemming from the anticipated trickle-down effects of other federal funding cuts.

Compounding the crisis, earlier today, the House of Representatives passed a federal tax bill backed by President Trump that includes $267 billion in cuts, threatening programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which currently supports over 42 million low-income Americans. Beyond providing essential nutrition, every dollar invested in SNAP generates $1.50 in local economic activity and is strongly linked to improved public health and reduced healthcare costs.

At a press conference earlier this afternoon, Council Member Shahana Hanif and community advocates urged local businesses, nonprofits, and residents to step up and join the fight against food insecurity. With the USDA reporting that 40% of food in the U.S. is wasted, much of it still perfectly edible, the need for coordinated food rescue efforts has never been more urgent, and can be part of the solution to prevent hunger and reduce landfill waste. 

See photos and videos of the press conference here. Attribute to Office of Council Member Shahana Hanif. 

“President Trump and Elon Musk are dismantling anti-hunger programs, ripping away millions in funding under the false pretense of efficiency. And now, Congressional Republicans have doubled down on this approach, passing legislation to slash Medicaid and SNAP in order to hand out tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “Food justice is central to my work, and this funding allocation is a direct response to fill the gaps left by Trump’s cruel and regressive federal policies. In one of the wealthiest cities in the world, no one should go hungry. We will keep fighting to ensure that dignified food access is available to every neighbor.”

“Hunger is not just an unconscionable problem––it is an unnecessary one. We produce more than enough nutritious food to feed every New Yorker––and every American––many times over. Yet, that food often goes to waste while our neighbors go hungry. This disparity is not merely a matter of scarcity; it is a reflection of systemic issues within our food system. It’s about how food is grown, subsidized, and distributed. It’s about who has access to it, and who benefits from the current structures in place,” said Douglas Silver, Founder and Executive Director of Gotham Food Pantry

“The current federal funding and programming cuts occurring contemporaneously with threats to supplemental nutrition benefits and looming inflation and possible recession caused by tariffs and unpredictable economic conditions, has made it nearly impossible for organizations such as CHiPS, who are on the ground, day in and day out, trying to feed everyone who comes to our doors, to succeed in their missions. State and city government funding has now become even more essential in helping us continue to rise to the moment and meet the ever-increasing need,” said Peter Endriss, Executive Director of Community Help in Park Slope (CHiPS), Inc. 

“As a lifelong resident of Gowanus Houses and now as President of the Tenant Association, I work side by side with my neighbors to operate food distributions in partnership with Gotham Food Pantry, CHiPs, and the Office of Council Member Shahana Hanif,” said William Reid, President of the Gowanus Houses Tenant Association. “For many residents, these distributions are the difference between just getting by and having basic needs met. It is a grassroots effort where neighbors are stepping up for each other as systems continue to fail us, keeping our communities trapped in cycles of poverty, need, and hunger.”

“Access to nutritious food is a basic human right, not a privilege. Yet too many in our community are forced to choose between paying rent and putting a healthy meal on the table. That’s why Gotham Food Pantry is not just essential. It’s a lifeline. Their work in Gowanus Houses and across NYCHA campuses is rooted in dignity, compassion, and solidarity. They are removing the stigma around food insecurity and replacing it with community care,” said Tracey Pinkard, Tenant Leader and Resident at Gowanus Houses. “Since the pandemic, the need has grow, but so has the heart of our community. I’m deeply grateful to Doug Silver, Claudia Perez, Council Member Shahana Hanif, Mr. Reid, and the incredible volunteers like Gilbert Smith, Roger Brown, Vie Richardson White, and my mother, Lona Tyre, who show us that real change happens when neighbors show up for each other. Together, we are feeding not only bodies, but spirits with hope and community.”

“Many residents of Wyckoff Gardens also benefit from the distributions that Gotham Food Pantry and CHiPs hold at Gowanus Houses. Their distribution model does not turn any neighbors away,” said Valerie Bell, President of Wyckoff Gardens Tenant Association. “We should not be cutting these long-standing and successful programs, but rather expanding and investing in her so that even more families in need can be served with dignity, consistency, and compassion.” 

“I’ve seen firsthand how my neighbors are impacted by rising food costs and inflation. Distributions operated by CHiPs and Gotham Food Pantry are a lifeline for so many of our neighbors, and with the help of the tenant association, we’re able to help deliver these items door to door,” said Vicente Velez, President of Warren Street Tenant Association. “I’m grateful to Council Member Shahana Hanif for stepping up to fill in these gaps during this critical time.”

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About Council Member Shahana Hanif: Council Member Shahana Hanif represents Brooklyn’s 39th District and is Co-Chair of the New York City Council’s Progressive Caucus and the Council’s Task Force to Combat Hate. Born and raised in the 39th District to Bangladeshi immigrant parents, Council Member Hanif has dedicated her career to advocating for working-class families and advancing a city built on care, equity, and safety. Since her election in 2021, Council Member Hanif has passed significant legislation, including Local Law 85 (2023), which mandates universal residential composting; Local Laws 75 and 76 (2022), which protect and expand abortion rights in NYC; and Local Law 161 (2023), which created a pioneering Immigrant Workers Bill of Rights. She also enacted Local Law 45 (2024), providing survivors of domestic violence with free lock changes, personal safety alarms, and door and window repairs. Council Member Hanif is the first Muslim woman ever elected to the New York City Council and the first woman to represent the 39th District in the New York City Council.

Gotham Food Pantry advances food justice by establishing food rescue operations in marginalized communities and advocating for equitable, sustainable food systems. It specializes in partnering with resident leaders and local retailers to expand nutritious food access in low-income public housing complexes throughout New York City. Since its founding in 2020, Gotham has rescued and distributed over 10 million pounds of food to over 300,000 food-insecure New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs. 

Community Help in Park Slope (CHiPS) has been a cornerstone in Brooklyn since 1971, offering essential services to those facing food insecurity and homelessness. Operating from its Fourth Avenue location, CHiPS provides hot meals six days a week, serving over 600 meals daily. The organization also runs a food pantry program, including a mobile pantry van launched in 2023, which delivers fresh fruits and vegetables and groceries to various neighborhoods, including the NYCHA Gowanus Houses. In addition to food services, CHiPS operates the Frances Residence, a transitional housing program offering safe, furnished studio apartments and support services to pregnant and postpartum mothers and their infants. Through these comprehensive programs, CHiPS continues to fulfill its mission of providing food, community, and hope to those in need.