Elevating Voices at D.C. Power Summit

Food Bank For New York City is proud to once again be the official charity partner of the SHAPE + Health Women’s Half-Marathon, the largest women’s-only half-marathon in the United States. As thousands of women gather to run the Central Park Loop on April 30, Food Bank will be on the ground raising awareness about our "Woman to Woman" campaign, which serves the estimated 1 million women and girls facing poverty in NYC. We'll also be running with our very own Food Bank team! Ahead of race day, we decided to chat with a few of our runners to learn about why they decided to team up with Food Bank. Read the conversation below! What inspired you to join the Food Bank running team? Emily Feigelman, Food Bank Donor Relations Coordinator: I'm incredibly grateful and extremely lucky to be able to work for Food Bank For New York City, and I love that Food Bank is the official charity partner of the SHAPE + Health Women's Half Marathon for the second year in a row. I signed up to participate because I love running and I love Food Bank! I'm also concurrently running a fundraiser for Food Bank based on the number of miles I'm running, and I'm thrilled that I can engage my extended network in our community and our mission. Taylor Edwards: What empowered me was the fact that we are running for a great cause. We are not just running a half marathon; we are running for the purpose of helping humanity. I’ve become more consciously aware of the food shortage here and around the globe since COVID, young girls like me not having healthy food to eat daily. There are a lot of young girls and women who are not living in good conditions, I would like to give them an opportunity for a better life. Madison Rupert: I've dedicated my professional life to helping mission-driven organizations change the world - and have been a huge fan of the Food Bank for many years. I wanted to get involved initially as a team member, but when the job listing closed, I came across this running opportunity and couldn't pass it up. Thus, my flight was booked and tight 4-week training regime began to join the team in Central Park for this incredible event. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to channel my passion for serving underserved populations professionally, and love for running personally, into a goal to serve the common good. Alessandra Simkin, Food Bank Junior Board Member: As long as people are facing food insecurity, I am ready to do what I can – big and small – to raise awareness. Joining the team gave me the opportunity to fundraise to support the Woman to Woman campaign. I’m grateful to all the people that have contributed and for the fact that I can do this. Thank you so much to everyone who is supporting me and this amazing campaign. A Woman to Woman hygiene kit packed with period products and hygiene essentials. How do you overcome challenges? Kimberly Ingram: I overcome challenges with a lot of prayer and self reflection, seeing where I can make changes in myself to contribute to whatever the issue is for the better. Alison West: A can-do attitude helps! I love a challenge! Hard work and perseverance are key. Madison: Overcoming any challenge starts with the belief "I can, and I will." My personal mantra has empowered me to overcome barriers of self-doubt and fight through the "pain cave" of running (and of life) to reach my fullest potential so I may help others reach theirs. What does community mean to you? Emily: Community means being positively involved and engaged in places you live, work, and enjoy. It's about advocating for, building relationships with, and redistributing resources to your neighbors, friends, family, and colleagues. It's about giving back and giving forward. To me, that looks like being a supporting member of a powerful, capable, and sincere team at my job, volunteering at my local Food Bank Member Agency soup kitchen and at my co-op grocery store, spending quality time, in person and virtually, with my roommates and my family, and financially supporting restaurants and businesses in my neighborhood. Taylor: My community is a space where I can grow, reflect, and share experiences with others who may or may not look like me, but at the end of the day, are still all part of something in some way. Alison: Essentially, it’s a feeling of home. And to me, I want to join those in the community to make things better, and for it to feel like “home” to those joining me in the community. Working together for a purpose! Meet Felicia and her daughter, who joined us at our Woman to Woman ad-campaign photo shoot. There are currently 1 million women and girls living in poverty right here in New York City. How can we stand up to support them? Alessandra: As a mother, a woman, and a New Yorker, it’s all about getting involved to lift up all women. I love New York and when women thrive, our city thrives. That’s why I’m doing this run, and why my commitment will continue on after it’s all over. Madison: Radical change doesn't just happen -- it is called to action by courageous people who force our leaders to recognize the millions of women and children who are denied the human right to housing and hunger-free lives. Public events, advocacy, and demanding systems change starts with us. This run is a great way to remind our elected leaders of the importance of investing in all walks of life that make NYC the beautiful treasure-trove of diversity that it is. Kimberly: I think it's all about helping to meet people’s immediate needs, be it housing or food, and then taking it further with education, so someone in need has a way to improve their way of life. We are beyond grateful for all of the amazing runners who will be repping Food Bank at this month's SHAPE + Health Women's Half Marathon! To learn more about the big day (and Food Bank's Woman to Woman campaign) click this link. And if you're running in the race, make sure to stop by the Race Day Festival to say hello!

From October 14 - 17, the Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival offers attendees the chance to enjoy over 60 events and workshops hosted by the world's most renowned culinary personalities. But what's really fantastic about the festival is that 100% of the net proceeds go right back to fighting food insecurity in NYC, specifically in support of us here at Food Bank and God's Love We Deliver. Another cool thing about the festival? It's powered almost entirely by volunteers! That's right, New Yorkers just like you make this one of the most impactful anti-hunger events of the year, working closely with us and Food Network celebrities to pull off this extra special weekend. Want to sign up to be a volunteer with us on the ground? Register here! And if you'd like to hear from some of our past volunteers, keep on reading below. They share what the experience is like and why they return to NYCWFF year after year. What is your favorite thing about volunteering with Food Bank at NYCWFF? Chef Tianna Lawrence: As a DOP (Dope Ol' Person), I never tire of learning. The youngsters have a lot to learn, but they also have a lot to teach. I come away each year with a new recipe, new skill, or a fresh new way to do something I’ve done all the time. Chef Carol Koty: As someone blessed to be surrounded by food every single day, it breaks my heart that there is anyone going hungry. This one weekend of hard work (and a ton of fun!) raises so much money to not only help those that are homeless, but those with jobs that are struggling with the decision to make rent or put food on the table. Our help allows Food Bank to make that decision easier for those families. Why did you decide to return as a NYCWFF volunteer in 2021? Chef Carol Koty: NYCWFF is one event that I look forward to being a part of every year. I have been volunteering since 2013, and I plan to continue to make NYCWFF a priority in my life for many years to come. Emil Gomez: I had so much fun last time that I wanted to experience all of it again. Chef Tianna Lawrence: My mother (who passed away this past year) drummed into my head that no matter how bad your situation might be at the moment, there is someone who has it worse. Never forget that and use what you love to help others. This pandemic has taken a lot. Friends, family, and coworkers. But I’m here for another year with this great organization. What’s the most exciting part of getting to volunteer on the ground at NYCWFF? Any fun celebrity stories or sightings? Emil Gomez: I was wandering around a venue once when an event was about to end. I then came face to face with Ted Allen. We talked about "Chopped," of course! Chef Carol Koty: One of my favorite memories from 2019 - Alex Guarnaschelli's restaurant was serving food at one of the pier events where she was also headlining as a celebrity. Before the event started, I was walking by her restaurant's kitchen station. She stopped me, gave me a sample of the dish, and asked me if I thought it needed more sauce. An "Iron Chef" and "Chopped" judge wanted my opinion! I was on cloud nine. Chef Tianna Lawrence: Back in 2018, Anne Burrell was a volunteer for a "Chopped" event. We were so surprised. She told us, 'I’m just like you, tell me what needs to be done to set up.' Man, that women could chop onions faster than anyone I’ve ever seen. We worked, but watched everything she did. She was a hoot and we had a ball! What would you say to someone who’s on the fence about whether or not to sign up as a NYCWFF volunteer? Chef Tianna Lawrence: For those who aren’t sure, try out one or two events. It’s for a great cause and you’ll walk away knowing you’ve given back to your neighbors in need. Chef Carol Koty: If you are on the fence about volunteering, find a friend to volunteer with you! That way, you'll automatically know someone participating, and you can experience it together. We're beyond grateful for all the folks that make NYCWFF such a phenomenal experience. As a reminder, the festival is running from October 14 - 17, so there is still time to register as a volunteer. Take a peek at our full schedule of available shifts.

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.