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Serving NYC Veterans: Muhammad Talha's Fight Against Hunger

Muhammad Talha is Food Bank For New York City’s Director of Operations, which means he’s in charge of directing the flow of product through our Warehouse & Food...

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Food Assistance |

Serving NYC Veterans: Muhammad Talha's Fight Against Hunger

Muhammad Talha is Food Bank For New York City’s Director of Operations, which means he’s in charge of directing the flow of product through our Warehouse & Food...

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Muhammad Talha is Food Bank For New York City’s Director of Operations, which means he’s in charge of directing the flow of product through our Warehouse & Food Distribution Center in the Bronx. Each day, he makes sure that the right food gets to the right people in the right amounts at the right time. The job is ceaseless, but one he’s especially prepared for after serving in the U.S. Military. “I’m an immigrant. I came to the U.S. in 2014 and decided after seven years that I wanted to give back to the country that had given me so much. I joined the Military and my passion for service only grew.” Food Banker Muhammad Talha is a proud Army Veteran. After finding his way to Food Bank, he became especially attuned to the ways in which food insecurity impacts Veterans. “Hunger is one of the major struggles that Veterans face, not only after service, but during service as well. 1 in 4 service members face hunger and 1.2 million Veterans currently rely on SNAP benefits.” “I don’t want anyone to feel hunger, because I faced it,” he explains. “I came from Pakistan as an immigrant and hunger is a huge issue there. I have seen it. I have felt it very closely. I have learned that we have to care, we have to look out for each other.” Watch the video to learn more about Talha and how you can support food insecure service members this Veteran’s Day.
Advocacy |

Why Voting Matters: Voter Turnout and Food Insecurity in NYC

How much do you know about the connection between voter turnout and food security in NYC? Data shows that neighborhoods with the highest food insecurity also have some...

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How much do you know about the connection between voter turnout and food security in NYC? Data shows that neighborhoods with the highest food insecurity also have some of the lowest voter turnout rates. This means these communities are not fully using their political power. At Food Bank For New York City, we aim to build power in the communities we serve. Advocacy is a key part of our mission and increasing voter participation is essential to that. When neighbors have the information they need to vote—like knowing their polling site and understanding the candidates—they're more likely to cast their ballot and make their voices heard. Scroll below to see how you can help empower potential voters with the tools and resources they need to thrive! Food Bank For New York City's advocacy team works with partners on the federal, state, and local levels to push policies that protect food insecure New Yorkers. Pictured above at City Hall with advocates from across the five boroughs. Why Voting Matters for Food Security Low voter participation in communities impacted by hunger means they may not be fully represented in policy decisions that directly impact their ability to access the food and resources they need to thrive. Why? Well, the truth is that neighborhoods with higher voter participation get more attention from candidates and officials, while areas with lower turnout are often overlooked. If we can help increase voting in these communities, we can help ensure that policymakers focus on the issues that matter most. We know that government resources help lift people out of food insecurity and poverty. In 2021, federal pandemic relief drove the poverty rate down to a record low of 8%. When that aid stopped, the poverty rate rose to 12.4% in a year. Similarly, the Child Tax Credit expansion in 2021 created the largest single year drop in child poverty ever, which reversed after the expanded credit expired. Unfortunately, these incredible results alone were not enough to create lasting policy change. That’s where voting comes in. When we vote, and encourage others to vote, we make lawmakers take notice of the policies and programs that make a difference in the lives of the New Yorkers we serve. How You Can Help Every vote has the power to change the future for families in New York City. Many elections, especially local ones, are decided by just a few votes, so by voting, you help push for policies that empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good. Turning a nonvoter into a voter is another way to make impactful change. Voters are more likely to contact elected officials and advocate for themselves, their families, and communities. Basic information from a trusted messenger like Food Bank about where, when, and how to vote helps new voters participate. A potential voter educated about the basics is a likely voter. And feeling that your voice, and your vote, matters is empowering. Take Action Today Volunteer with Us: Join our efforts to empower communities and provide resources for those in need. Sign up for our Action Alerts: Be the first to learn about the policies we’re fighting for and the actions we’re taking to uplift our neighbors. Register and Make a Plan to Vote: Make sure you are registered and ready to vote in upcoming elections. This link will also allow you to see where candidates running in your area stand on the issues that matter to you. Be a Voting Resource: Share information about the upcoming election with others in your network.
Volunteer |

Volunteer Profile: Noah Becker

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Volunteer Profile: Noah Becker Noah has served more than 25 shifts at our Community Kitchen & Food Pantry since he first began volunteering with us in April 2024! Why is Food Bank’s mission important to you? Food security is a precondition for everything else in life. Food Bank's commitment to providing this foundation—and so deliciously and nutritiously at that—is important to me because when we take care of the community, we enable everyone to lead healthier, more active, more meaningful lives. What was your most memorable moment while serving with Food Bank? After volunteering at Senior Lunch for several weeks, some of the regulars and I started to get to know each other by name. Phoebe shared memories from her college years with me, Arnold and I laughed as he recounted how his mother named him at birth, Kevin excitedly showed me a new magnetic dartboard he had just picked up… Sweet new connections, and lots of smiles all around! Tell us about a meal that is special to you and your family. My family is Jewish, and some of our lineage can be traced to Austria. We have a family recipe for a Viennese noodle kugel that we often make around holidays, rich, buttery and savory, just delicious. Who inspires you to serve? Three of my four parents are social workers. They're strong-willed people, and from a young age I was deeply affected by how their beliefs and values guide their commitment to service and all aspects of their lives. I'm also a professional musician, which in my mind is about providing another layer of care and support to communities around me.
Empowering New Yorkers with Culturally Relevant Food

At Food Bank For New York City, we understand that food is more than just nourishment — it’s a powerful connector to heritage, culture, and community. As we approach the...

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At Food Bank For New York City, we understand that food is more than just nourishment — it’s a powerful connector to heritage, culture, and community. As we approach the Jewish high holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we recognize the importance of providing culturally relevant food to our neighbors across the five boroughs, including the many Jewish families we proudly serve. "Food represents love, history, and the warmth of cherished memories,” shares Leslie Gordon, Food Bank For New York City President & CEO. “There are certain foods I look forward to each year, and without them, life would feel less rich, less meaningful. I think about Passover and my mother’s incredible matzah ball soup, a recipe passed down through five generations from my great-grandmother who came to America from Eastern Europe. For Rosh Hashanah, it’s honey cake and apples dipped in honey, symbolizing hope for a sweet new year. These foods aren’t just meals — they’re connections to family, to culture, to the moments that make life special.” Leslie serving at a recent food repack with MetLife at Grand Central Terminal. While everyone deserves to celebrate the holidays with food that affirms who they are and where they come from, for many families facing food insecurity, accessing culturally relevant food items can be a challenge. That’s why our approach at Food Bank For New York City goes beyond providing basic staples to delivering culturally relevant foods that allow families to celebrate their traditions with dignity. "I understand the central role that different foods play in the lives of people from all communities,” shares Leslie. "When food is familiar and meaningful to New Yorkers, it invites them to seek out the food assistance they need. It helps people feel welcome, respected, and seen.” Recognizing that each culture has its own cherished foods, our talented food procurement and nutrition teams have expanded our inventory to include more than 30 new culturally relevant items, such as whole grain masa flour, dates, and yuca. We work closely with our network of over 800 partners across the five boroughs to ensure these foods reach the right communities, so everyone can prepare dishes that hold special meaning for them. The more than 800 community-based organizations in our Food Bank Member Network can order culturally relevant foods like yuca (pictured above) from our Warehouse & Food Distribution Center for their neighbors. "Food doesn't solver hunger if people won’t eat it," Leslie emphasizes. "For example, it wouldn’t be sensitive to send ham to a kosher observant community. That’s why it’s imperative to listen to our neighbors and provide them with the foods they actually need.” As we prepare for the busy holiday season, we invite our supporters to join us in empowering every New Yorker to achieve food security for good. When you donate to Food Bank For New York City, you’re not just helping to provide meals, you’re enabling families to celebrate their traditions with dignity and joy. Make a difference this holiday season — support Food Bank For New York City and help us provide culturally relevant food to families across the five boroughs.
Meet the Greenspans, a Family that Gives Together

For Food Bank For New York City donors Josh and Tara Greenspan, giving back is a family affair. Since becoming supporters of Food Bank in 2020, Josh and his wife have...

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For Food Bank For New York City donors Josh and Tara Greenspan, giving back is a family affair. Since becoming supporters of Food Bank in 2020, Josh and his wife have made it a priority to involve their entire family—not just in donating but in dedicating their time to helping others. When the pair discovered Food Bank’s Family Repacks at our Warehouse & Distribution Center in the Bronx, it seemed like the perfect way to engage the whole family. "My wife and I want to raise our kids to be people who help, who feel part of something bigger,” Josh shared. “Maybe they’ll give financially, but we hope their experiences with Food Bank inspire them to roll up their sleeves and serve.” For more on Josh and the Greenspan clan, read below! Food Bank For New York City donor Josh Greenspan with his family at a recent Food Bank Family Repack. Why did you choose to support Food Bank For New York City? It wasn’t an epiphany, but more of a realization. We have two kids—my daughter is turning 15, and my son is 12—and we wanted to show them how they can use their privilege to help others. For the first ten years of their lives, we donated to charitable causes, but we weren't actively giving our time. So, we researched organizations and saw that Food Bank For NYC not only maximizes donations to directly serve those in need, but also offers volunteer opportunities for families. We wanted a local organization where we could see the impact on our community, whether on our direct neighbors or indirect neighbors across the five boroughs. We finally signed up for a Family Repack, and it was a fantastic experience. Now, it’s become a quarterly tradition. We drive up from Long Island to the Bronx, and my kids—who aren’t morning people—jump out of bed for it! What did you enjoy most about the Family Repack? The volunteer coordinators are great with kids and split families into different packing stations. It was so rewarding to look over and see my kids on an assembly line, carefully packing food. There’s only so much satisfaction you get from clicking “donate,” but watching my children actively help in such a meaningful way was a powerful experience. Food Bank For NYC donor Josh Greenspan’s children working the assembly line at a recent Food Bank Family Repack. How does family support you in tough times? I grew up in a close-knit family. When things got tough, everyone circled the wagon, including our extended family of neighbors and friends. My parents’ friends felt like family—they were always there with food, support, and help during difficult times. Now, we have a similar network for our kids, and we’ve faced our own challenges, from health scares to losing loved ones. Those people are the first to step in, no questions asked. That’s what being part of a community means and it’s one of the things I love most about New York, that strangers can become family in an instant. What advice would you give families thinking about getting involved with Food Bank For NYC? Just do it! The hardest part is overcoming the initial inertia. We were the same way until we took that first step and got our family involved with Food Bank’s Warehouse Repacks. You’ll never regret spending time doing good with the people you love. Join the Greenspan family in supporting Food Bank For New York City's mission of empowering every New Yorker to achieve food security for good. Click here to make your gift and help provide meals for families across the five boroughs!
Volunteer |

Volunteer Profile: Jackson Staal

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Volunteer Profile: Jackson Staal Jackson Staal volunteers regularly at our Community Kitchen & Food Pantry for Community Meal Service. Since Jackson began serving with us in May, he has served over 45 hours! Why is Food Bank’s mission important to you? Being a born and raised New Yorker, I have unfortunately witnessed firsthand the food insecurity that too many face in this great city. Anyone walking outside can almost immediately find someone struggling to make ends meet for their next meal. This is why Food Bank For New York City is such a critical organization to fill the gap of so many New Yorkers struggling for basic necessities like food. With all the city has afforded me in terms of wonderful experiences and opportunities, I feel responsible to give back and try to help those less fortunate who call NYC their home as well. What was your most memorable moment while serving with Food Bank? My most memorable moment happens every time I volunteer, and it is getting to see the relief and gratitude in the faces of all the clients who come into the pantry. It is truly a humbling and rewarding experience to see first hand the impact that you can make on so many people’s lives. One moment in particular that comes to mind was my interaction with a family of 4 that comes in every day when hot meals are served. They are extremely considerate and grateful every time, and one day we had extra bananas lying around, so I gave the father a bunch. His eyes lit up and he profusely thanked me. I could see the relief and positivity from that moment we shared. I will never forget how my small gesture could make a world of difference to someone else. Tell us about a meal that is special to you and your family. One meal that is extra special to me and my family is the breakfasts my Dad makes on weekends. It is the simple breakfast meal of eggs, cheese, toast, and coffee, but it is a tradition every weekend that my Dad will get up early and cook for us and we will all eat together at the kitchen table. It is always nice to have those moments on weekend mornings where we can talk, reconnect from the busy week and enjoy a hearty breakfast together! Who inspires you to serve? The reason I am excited and inspired to keep coming back week after week truly comes from the staff of the pantry. It is an unbelievably positive and tight-knit community where every member is only focused on trying to make the lives of others dealing with food insecurity better in any way they can. Everyone is always smiling and working hard, no matter the circumstances. It is unbelievably inspiring that I get to witness such amazing people carry out the work they love and I feel lucky to even be a part of this organization with them.
Food Assistance |

Food Bank Members Collaborate in Queens

Food Bank For New York City provides food and other resources to a network of over 800 food pantries, campus pantries, soup kitchens, and healthcare partners across the...

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Food Bank For New York City provides food and other resources to a network of over 800 food pantries, campus pantries, soup kitchens, and healthcare partners across the five boroughs. To facilitate learning, dialogue, problem-solving, and creative brainstorming within our network, we regularly host “Borough Chats,” which bring together Food Bank Members of the same borough to talk about issues impacting their communities. Follow us to Woodside, Queens, to the picturesque church, La Jornada, a long-standing Food Bank member, where our recent borough chat took place. The event brought together 26 staff and volunteers from over 20 food pantries and soup kitchen programs, providing a valuable platform to network, learn, and connect on shared experiences. The beautiful La Jornda in Queens. Our Borough Chats exemplify Food Bank's commitment to empowering our member agencies by facilitating meaningful dialogue and collaboration. By bringing together key stakeholders to discuss critical issues, we aim to inspire action and improve client experiences to empower New Yorkers achieve food security for good. The Queens Borough Chat kicked off with an insightful panel discussion featuring Swami Das from The River Fund New York, Virginia Tucker from One Way Church of Christ Food Pantry, and Food Bank staff member Samantha Burgos. The panelists shared their expertise on topics such as improving neighborhood interactions during distributions, the importance of being a client choice program, and best practices for utilizing volunteers. To address a critical issue for our Queens members, how to best serve New York's newly arrived neighbors seeking asylum, Molly Schaeffer from the NYC Mayor's Office of Asylum Seeker Operations provided an overview of the city's latest support initiatives. Food Bank staff member Maria Meyer then offered important health strategies Queens members could infuse into their programming. The event concluded with insights from Andre Mack of Bank of America, who shared his expertise on achieving outstanding client engagement. Borough-by-borough, Food Bank is helping our members to empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good. Queens Food Bank members gathered at La Jornda to collaborate. We want to extend a special thank you to our host, La Jornada, for generously hosting the event and to our participants for making this special day possible. Spotlight on La Jornada La Jornada is a shining example of the incredible work our member agencies do every day. Serving approximately 25,000 people each month in some of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in New York City – Woodside, Jackson Heights, and Elmhurst – La Jornada operates a robust food pantry and mobile pantry program. But its support doesn't stop there. La Jornada also offers migration assistance, health services, and educational programs covering ESL, literacy, nutrition, and personal finance, demonstrating a holistic approach to empowering its community. Visit foodbanknyc.org to learn more about our mission to empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good.
Food Insecurity |

Food Unites at Brooklyn Pride

Food Bank For New York City joined the festivities at Brooklyn Pride this June to celebrate our LGBTQ+ neighbors, clients, and supporters. And it was a huge success!

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Food Bank For New York City joined the festivities at Brooklyn Pride this June to celebrate our LGBTQ+ neighbors, clients, and supporters. And it was a huge success! Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn was packed for Pride. Our Food Bank booth was the place to be. Revelers stopped by to learn more about our work and mission, sign up to volunteer, and even inquire about SNAP eligibility. The best part? If they qualified, they could get enrolled in SNAP benefits right then and there! Food Bank's Pride booth was the place to be! But that's not all – our amazing partners at Farmacy Beauty hooked us up with some seriously cool clean beauty essentials: Green Defense sunscreen, Mango Smoothie lip balm, and Deep Sweep Toner so folks could enjoy some self-care during this special month. Farmacy Products included lip balm, toner, and sunscreen. SPF was essential on this sunny June day. SWAG included fans, stickers, temporary tattoos, Farmacy beauty products, sunglasses, and pens. Throughout the day, hundreds of New Yorkers stopped by our tent, many of whom were already part of the Food Bank family – donors, volunteers, supporters, and clients. It warmed our hearts to connect with so many amazing folks! We are proud to support New York's LGBTQIA+ community. We believe FOOD UNITES at Food Bank For New York City. One particularly memorable woman named Colleen joyfully stepped up to our table in a colorful Bi-pride shirt and shared "A few years ago when I lost my job, Food Bank saved my ass. Where can I donate?" We laughed, teared up, and shook hands before she dove back into the crush of folks grooving down 5th Ave. We want to thank all our visitors who stopped by to learn more about our mission and sign up to volunteer with us. We also want to give a huge shoutout to the nearly 200 people who signed up to volunteer and the hundreds more who took the time to learn about our mission. You all rock! We thank everyone who signed up to volunteer with us! Pride is a time to celebrate our LGBTQ+ neighbors, and we are so proud of the partnerships we've fostered to truly support our fellow New Yorkers in need. But we also know that there's still work to be done. Did you know that 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ New York residents struggle with food insecurity? That's a reality we're working hard to change. Find out more about our approach here and check out some of the LGBTQ-serving organizations to whom we provide food and other essential resources: At Food Bank, we believe that FOOD UNITES us all and we welcome you to join us in our mission to empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good. See the action here: The Food Bank booth was the place to be! FOOD UNITES New Yorkers. Happy Pride, Y’all! To learn more visit foodbanknyc.org.
Food Assistance |

Food Is A Right, Not A Fight

On May 23, Food Bank For New York City organized a rally on the steps of City Hall to oppose possible city budget cuts to the Community Food Connection (CFC), a vital,...

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On May 23, Food Bank For New York City organized a rally on the steps of City Hall to oppose possible city budget cuts to the Community Food Connection (CFC), a vital, city-funded program that provides food to over 500 food pantries and soup kitchens across New York City. Mayor Eric Adams has proposed a 50% cut in the budget to the program, which would be catastrophic for New Yorkers who rely on food assistance programs. Food Bank rallied with our friends at United Way of New York City, City Harvest, The Roundtable, NY Common Pantry, Vision Urbana, The Fortune Society, The Broadway Community, Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, Project Hospitality, and Los Sures Comida to urge Mayor Adams to restore full funding for food assistance programs. Food Bank President & CEO Leslie Gordon hosted the rally. These organizations were joined by nearly one hundred advocates, direct service providers, and concerned New Yorkers who called on lawmakers to restore adequate funding for services including increased support for food pantries and soup kitchens and expanded access to grocery benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), that assist the nearly 1.2 million New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity. The message to Mayor Adams was loud and clear: stop the budget cuts and fully fund the CFC. More than one hundred advocates joined the rally. Food Bank President & CEO Leslie Gordon kicked off the rally with an impassioned speech. “We find ourselves at a critical juncture today, the mayor’s intention to cut funding for a vital food program by nearly a half closes an unprecedented threat to the fabric of our city’s food assistance network.” According to the NYC True Cost Of Living Report, half of New York City families (even when the adults in the household are working) struggle to afford essentials like healthy food, childcare, healthcare, and housing costs. The CFC provides a lifeline for families who struggle to truly afford the living costs of our city, and is an essential part of the safety net of food assistance programs that keep New Yorkers fed. Mohammad Razvi, founder of Council Of Peoples Organization, the largest halal food pantry in Brooklyn, echoed these thoughts, reminding us that “people say COVID is over, it’s all done... it’s not! Not for our folks, not for our people.” For Razi, the Mayor’s proposed cut to funding for the CFC may reflect a flawed logic that food assistance is less needed after the COVID-19 crisis, when in fact it is needed now more than ever. Mohammad Razvi address the crowd. Jessica, a Bronx resident and mother of three, spoke from the heart about managing a family on limited resources. “If you’ve ever had to stretch a dollar, you’ll understand the essence of what we often call ‘mom math,’ this isn’t your regular sum game, this is about figuring out how to make ends meet when the sums just don’t add up.” “The harsh realities of life in New York City have made [building a strong and healthy family] incredibly difficult," she continued. "Suddenly the very act of caring for my family, something as simple as ensuring there is enough baby formula or diapers feels like an up-the-hill battle. My husband, he’s in a union and recently got a raise, but ironically, that made us ineligible for SNAP and other government related benefits.” She urged the mayor and elected officials to take action: “We need your help and support, families like mine aren’t asking for miracles, we are asking for empathy and action that ensures no family in this great city has to worry about where their next meal is coming from.” Jessica (far left) shared her voice with the crowd. As part of our dynamic approach to empowering every New Yorker to achieve food security for good, Food Bank is committed to advocating for policies and programs that provide the necessary support to those in need. By calling on Mayor Adams and the City Council to secure baseline funding of $60M for the CFC, Food Bank aims to ensure New Yorkers maintain access to healthy food in the face of rising costs. Watch the video below to see our community in action at the rally: To support Food Bank’s work and sign a petition against these proposed budget cuts, click here. More about the Community Food Connection (CFC): The Community Food Connection is a city-funded program that provides food to over 500 food pantries and soup kitchens across New York City, including Food Bank’s West Harlem Community Kitchen and Food Pantry. Sources: “The 2023 True Cost of Living Report: Overlooked and Undercounted: Struggling to Make Ends Meet in New York City 2023” - United Way of New York City

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