Inside a Food Bank Just Say Yes Lesson

The sound of a trickling hydroponic tower mixes with the excited chatter of second graders as they gather in the well-equipped science lab at their Brooklyn public school. Food Bank For New York City has partnered with this school for nine years, supplying not only vegetables, but comprehensive nutrition lesson plans, teacher training, and guidance on healthy eating through our CookShop program. The school's CookShop educator, Ms. Elzoghby in the elementary school's well-equipped science lab. Launched over 30 years ago, CookShop is all about empowering teachers with the resources they need to educate their students about cooking, nutrition, and physical fitness. It aims to foster enthusiasm in children for fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy whole foods. Each year, CookShop Classroom reaches over 13,000 New Yorkers through partnerships with 60 schools and 20 after-school programs. Let’s hop back into our Brooklyn classroom to see this dynamic program in action... Tasting notes students have charted. CookShop provides comprehensive lesson plans for educators. Ms. Elzoghby, the CookShop educator, guides the group of 16 students through the process of preparing a fresh salsa with cucumber dippers using vegetables provided by Food Bank. As the students begin cutting their cucumbers, one exclaims, "They smell good!" When asked about their favorite vegetables, responses include lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, and carrots. Two students even discuss a famous YouTuber's knife skills, showcasing their growing interest in cooking. A seven-year-old practices knife skills.Students collaborate on making salsa. "I'm a chef at home!" one student proudly declares, while another chimes in, "I know how to use real knives." Their enthusiasm is palpable as they collaborate on the salsa recipe, eagerly calling out the next ingredients needed: “vinegar and oil!” It's clear they've learned their way around a salad dressing. Ms. Elzoghby helps a student add olive oil to dress the salsa. Ms. Elzoghby even incorporates math questions into the lesson, asking, "If I need to add two teaspoons, but I only have a half-teaspoon measurement spoon, what should I do?" She receives the correct answer of four total from an eager eight-year-old. Nutrition Education incorporates many subjects, and the curriculum is infused with math, science, literacy, and Social Emotional learning. Enthusiasm abounds: students eagerly raise their hands for extra carrots. When the vegetables are cut, but before it’s ready to be tasted, Ms. Elzoghby reviews the group's rules: "Don't yuck someone's yum" and "Don't eat until everybody's been served." With a countdown of "3...2...1...eat!" the tasting begins. Students are served salsa and wait until everyone has some to taste it. Food Bank's CookShop program encourages children to love fruits and vegetables. The group seems to enjoy what they’ve prepared, and one student excitedly says: "I'm gonna taste the juice! Good to the last drop!" While some find the onions "spicy," others delight in their flavor. Many even come back for seconds, a testament to the program's success in encouraging healthy eating habits. A student carefully tastes the "spicy" onions. As the lesson concludes, the students file out of the science lab having tasted six different vegetables in one lesson. Ms. Elzoghby reports that more students are trying the cafeteria’s offerings at their daily salad bar. Healthy eating habits have left the classroom and entered everyday life. The impact of Food Bank's CookShop program is evident: by nourishing both minds and bodies, CookShop is cultivating a generation of informed, enthusiastic, and healthy young New Yorkers. This salsa allowed the students to try more than 6 vegetables in one lesson. A holistic approach to Nutrition Education includes gardening. Food Bank's CookShop program has a much greater reach than most nutrition education programs in the city and is currently serving 63 schools. It employs a train-the-trainer model that enables more teachers to provide this type of education within their schools. Each year CookShop trains about 600 teachers to implement the program. For more information on how you can support or get involved with CookShop, click here.

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

Food Bank member agency Iglesia Cristiana Valle De Jesus Food Pantry serves our neighbors in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. To fuel the pantry’s work, Food Bank regularly provides fresh produce and shelf-stable goods to the organization, which are distributed weekly to more than 600 New Yorkers. The impressive operation at Iglesia Cristiana Valle De Jesus is run by a large and enthusiastic team, who make it a priority to always serve their neighbors with dignity and care. One way they do this is by providing an indoor space for community members to congregate while waiting to receive food and other services. When visiting a food pantry in New York City, you’ll likely notice long lines that wrap around the block regardless of the weather. This is a common sight for many of the hunger-relief organizations within our Food Bank member network, and it makes sense – these organizations are operating at full capacity and simply don’t have the space to welcome all their neighbors inside. But this can pose problems, with some programs facing resistance from nearby homes and businesses. To mitigate this, Iglesia Cristiana Valle De Jesus invites community members inside to escape harsh weather, use the restroom, and connect with the tireless staff. Clients often wait on long lines and often, outdoors. And this is all the more incredible because Iglesia Cristiana Valle De Jesus is completely powered by volunteers, who work long hours multiple days a week receiving deliveries, preparing storage, and running the pantry distribution on Thursdays. With no paid staff, the Iglesia Cristiana Valle De Jesus Food Pantry is a true community resource with neighbors helping neighbors each and every day. Volunteers are served dinner at Iglesia Cristiana Valle De Jesus Food Pantry. Food Bank proudly provides food, resources, and regular capacity support to over 800 community-based organizations like the Iglesia Cristiana Valle De Jesus Food Pantry. The Food Bank Member Network stretches across all five boroughs and to nearly every zip code in New York City. Visit foodbanknyc.org to learn more about our mission to empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good.