Bring a Plate to the Table

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.

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

On May 10, Food Bank For New York City took over the Plaza Hotel to host our inaugural Gotham Ball. More than just a party, this event was a celebration of New York City and its Food Bank, featuring delectable bites from some of the city's most notable chefs. The star-studded crowd not only enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the Plaza's iconic Palm Court and Terrace Room, but also got the chance to bid on exclusive auction items, learn about our work, and, of course, dance the night away. Photo courtesy of Phillip Van Nostrand. As guests arrived, they walked through a rose-gilded turnstile into a special F-train subway car designed to transport them into the heart of the Gotham Ball. Photo courtesy of Phillip Van Nostrand. On the other side, they discovered live music, signature cocktails, and innovative spins on some of the city's most classic dishes (from deli-style reuben sandwiches to black & white macaroons and street dogs garnished with caviar). Photos courtesy of Phillip Van Nostrand. After sampling bites from our amazing team of chefs and mixologists, guests gathered to hear remarks from WABC-TV Eyewitness News Anchor Sade Baderinwa and Emmy Award-nominated comedian and actor Tracy Morgan. Both touched on their personal connections to our work, encouraging the audience to join them in the fight to feed and nourish all New Yorkers. Longtime Food Bank friend Tracy Morgan. Photo courtesy of Phillip Van Nostrand. Food Bank President & CEO Leslie Gordon then took the stage, thanking our guests for coming and speaking to the power of their generosity. As I stand here looking out over this crowd of Food Bank supporters, colleagues, partners, and friends, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude. When I stepped into the role of President & CEO of Food Bank For New York City in March 2020, I could have never guessed that one day we would get to share in a night like this. In many ways, as I look out into this beautiful crowd, I see my own journey at Food Bank reflected back to me in the faces of those who empowered, uplifted, and even challenged me as we worked to feed a city in crisis. Thank you for powering our mission to serve the greatest city in the world. Food Bank President & CEO Leslie Gordon. Photo courtesy of Phillip Van Nostrand. Fired up and ready to go, the crowd dove into our live auction, bidding on a range of items from a private dinner at NYC hot spot Ci Siamo to an exclusive box suite viewing experience at a summertime Yankees game. Food Bank Board Chair Seraina Macia. Photo courtesy of Phillip Van Nostrand. Once the auction was done, it was time to grab the bubbly and dance. As members of our extended Food Bank family moved throughout the space, we couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude for their tireless support of our mission. At the Gotham Ball alone, we were able to raise enough funds to provide nearly 5 million meals for our neighbors in need! Truly, a night we won't soon forget. Want to join us at our next event? Click here to see all of our upcoming opportunities. A special thanks to all of our Gotham Ball culinary partners, including the teams from Atoboy, Atomix, Naro; Sylvia's; Nom Wah; Little Owl; Maison Premiere; Gage & Tollner; Smith & Wollensky; Dante; S&P; Rafs; Crif Dogs & PDT; Maialino; and PopUp Bagels.