Taking a Firm Stance Against Hunger

On May 8, Food Bank For New York City took over The Grill & The Pool at the iconic Seagram Building to host our second annual 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, but also got the chance to bid on exclusive auction items, learn about our work, and, of course, dance the night away. Live entertainment throughout the night captured the rocking spirit of NYC. As guests arrived, they were greeted by smiling Food Bankers and a special cab dressed up for the night's festivities. After checking in, attendees moved to The Grill to mingle over lively conversations, delicious libations, and a groovy DJ set. Guests were invited to pose with our special Food Bank cab. Revelers started the evening in The Grill. At the strike of 8 pm, Party-goers made their way to The Pool, where culinary stations from Dirty French, Carbone, Estiatorio Milos, Nami Nori, and more were waiting for them with specialty small bites and treats. A rocking band was also playing live music that soared throughout the candlelit space. Guests enjoyed small bites and cocktails while sitting around The Pool. Nami Nuri turned it out with these crispy sushi roll-ups. "Next Level Chef" star Cassie Yeung and friend enjoying the music and vibes in The Pool. Why not end the night with delectable bite-sized donuts from Fan Fan Doughnuts? After sampling dishes from our amazing team of chefs, restauranteurs, and culinary superstars, guests gathered to hear remarks from Food Bank Board Member Katie Lee Biegel. Biegel touched on the power of Food Bank supporters and encouraged those in the room to share their Whys with one another. She then introduced Food Bank President & CEO Leslie Gordon to the stage. Food Bank Board Member Katie Lee Biegel delivered a heartfelt speech. Gordon thanked guests for coming and shared updates on what's been going on at Food Bank since last year's Gotham Ball, including the construction of a new refrigeration space in our Warehouse, the reopening of community meal service in our Community Kitchen, and the news that in 2023 we distributed more than 94 million pounds of food to New Yorkers in need, thanks to the generosity of supporters like those gathered in the room. Food Bank President & CEO Leslie Gordon talked about the hunger heroes who have long inspired her own work. She then introduced guests to our neighbor, Gregory. Known in our Community Kitchen for his consummate style and flair, Gregory has been both a participant and volunteer in our programming since 2018. He also happens to run a small business out of his home crafting bespoke bowties that are as vibrant as he is. To celebrate Gregory and his story of resilience and empowerment, Leslie invited guests to turn their attention to the screen to learn more about this amazing New Yorker. Fired up and ready to go, the crowd dove into our live auction, bidding on a range of items including a private culinary adventure at Milos Midtown, a custom art piece from pop artist Ashley Longshore, and bowties handmade by Gregory himself. The auction was a lively affair, with bids zooming across the room. 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 to empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good. Truly, a night we won't soon forget. Enjoy a few more pics below or click here to see our full album! The Pool was the place to be as party-goers mingled with one another and learned about our mission. Leslie Gordon with SNL star and Food Bank friend Kenan Thompson. Guests, including Food Bank Junior Board Chair Sarah Bennett (center), enjoyed a night of live music, amazing food, and new friends.

Volunteer Profile: Simone Jones Simone Jones serves at Food Bank's Community Kitchen & Pantry in Harlem as part of the Serve The Moment Service Corps in partnership with Repair the World. Why is Food Bank’s mission important to you? "As a native New Yorker, I grew up seeing the tragic impacts of food insecurity in our city. Food Bank’s mission is important to me because food insecurity is unjust, and all New Yorkers deserve consistent access to nutritious food." What was your most memorable moment while serving with Food Bank? "On my first day of volunteering, Food Bank's pantry team was so welcoming. They taught me exactly what goes into each pantry bag and why. I felt like a part of the team from Day One!" Tell us about a meal that is special to you and your family. "Mac and Cheese is a special dish for me and my family. We make it from scratch using my grandmother's recipe!" Who inspires you to serve? "Volunteering has always been a huge part of my life. After my experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa, I promised myself that I would continue to serve my community at home. The communities that I've created both abroad and at home in NYC inspire me to serve."

Food Bank For New York City’s 2022 Pride Month theme is #ProudlyFed. For us, this means we not only serve the estimated 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ New Yorkers struggling to put food on the table, but that we do it with joy, love, and pride. We also recognize that food insecurity in the LGBTQ+ community is often compounded by things like workplace discrimination, healthcare inequality, and housing insecurity. A citywide survey conducted in 2017 found that over 18 percent of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers had experienced homelessness, with these numbers soaring up to 60 percent for individuals who identified as Black, Hispanic, transgender, or gender non-conforming. Over 20 percent of respondents also reported that they had been denied a promotion, not hired, or been forced to resign from a job due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. To address these diverse and varied challenges, we partner with and distribute food to community-based organizations that not only feed our LGBTQ+ neighbors, but work to provide them with free legal services, educational opportunities, healthcare enrollment assistance, and nutrition workshops. One such organization is Make the Road New York, a Food Bank member agency that serves immigrant, working-class, and transgender communities throughout Brooklyn and Queens. Make the Road doesn’t shy away from difference; on the contrary, the group finds power in bringing together New Yorkers from all different walks of life to advocate for collective change. To learn more about the group’s unique approach to service, we spoke with Mateo Guerrero-Tabares, the Trans Justice and Leadership Program Manager at Make the Road New York. Mateo pictured at Make the Road New York’s office in Queens. Photo credit: Feeding America. Mateo found his way to Make the Road in 2010 after arriving in New York City as an undocumented minor. He began his journey as both a client and volunteer, receiving aid from the organization to adjust his immigration status and stay permanently in the United States. Make the Road quickly became a “political home” for Mateo and was one of the first public spaces in which he felt comfortable embracing his identity as a transgender man. As he told us: “It was very special to be able to say, ‘Mateo, he/they pronouns’ and be uplifted and cared for in such a beautiful way.” Volunteers working the weekly food distribution at Make the Road New York. Photo credit: Feeding America. Now, in his role as the organization’s Trans Justice and Leadership Program Manager, he’s working to bring that same level of solidarity and support to the immigrant and transgender New Yorkers he serves, especially when it comes to providing them with reliable access to fresh, nutritious food. In fact, Mateo started a special “bike brigade” at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver groceries to nearly 400 families a week. It was a way to sustain the sense of togetherness that has long fueled Make the Road’s mission to build a more equitable future for New York City’s most marginalized residents. “I want our members to be able to define what it means to exist in New York — and not just survive — but have a dignified life,” he said. “That sense of pride comes from a place of resiliency and community.” Mateo pictured at Make the Road New York’s office in Queens. Photo credit: Feeding America. We couldn’t be prouder to partner with and provide food to organizations like Make the Road New York that put our LGBTQ+ neighbors first. For more on how we serve these New Yorkers now and throughout the year, click this link. You can also donate directly to our Pride Month fundraising campaign to help raise crucial funds for organizations just like Make the Road. Give here. *** A special thanks to Feeding America for partnering with us on a suite of stories featuring LGBTQ-serving agencies in our extensive member network of over 800 food pantries, soup kitchens, and campus partners across the five boroughs. View the stories here.