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Volunteer Profile: Lea Elton

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Volunteer Profile: Lea Elton

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Volunteer Profile: Lea Elton Lea Elton is one of Food Bank’s NYC Civic Corps members! She will be serving with us for a 10-month term on our Volunteer Engagement Team to help us build on our volunteer programs at our Warehouse & Food Distribution Center. Why is Food Bank’s mission important to you? Growing up in NYC, I always deeply admired Food Bank and other food access organizations. I feel incredibly lucky that I never personally experienced food insecurity growing up, but many of my friends did. Watching the amount of food that gets wasted in this city and in this country at large continues to astonish me, particularly when I compare it to the growing percentage of Americans who are food insecure. This inequity is clearly indicative of a larger systemic issue that requires urgent attention. Food Bank for NYC addresses the downstream impacts of a broken food system every single day. Even if it is just for that day, feeding New Yorkers is essential when they are financially forced to choose between groceries and rent. I am honored that I get to be a part of this wonderful organization during my term of service. What was your most memorable moment while serving with Food Bank? I got to be a part of a Queens Mobile Pantry last month, and getting to speak with clients throughout the day was truly wonderful. I was amazed at how patient and understanding New Yorkers can be, especially when faced with cold weather and long lines for necessary food for their families. Hearing some of their stories and getting to bond over smaller things like favorite colors to wear, or places that they were from was very special. Tell us about a meal that is special to you and your family. My father makes homemade pesto for pasta, and my mother makes homemade applesauce that we put on the side. My stomach is grumbling as I write this because they are both such excellent dishes. Of course, the company is ultimately what makes this meal so special. I attempt to convey the importance of these types of meals and moments to our volunteers when they come in-- it is imperative that New Yorkers do not have to choose between other necessities and those special experiences. Who inspires you to serve? My aunt was a pediatrician throughout her career and continues in retirement to support her local community. She works at a suicide hotline weekly. Her endlessly giving spirit, resilience, and commitment to kindness is something I always want to embody. She is one of my favorite people to talk to and is always incredibly willing to lend an ear.
Volunteer |

Volunteer Profile: Judy Dederick

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Volunteer Profile: Judy Dederick Judy Dederick is a dedicated volunteer at our Community Kitchen & Food Pantry's Senior Meal Service. Since she joined us in April 2024, Judy has contributed her time at over ten shifts! Why is Food Bank’s mission important to you? I am very aware of food deserts and malnutrition, especially in poor communities. Here, the food is nutritious and served in a visually appealing way. I've also seen the community being built between staff, volunteers, and clients, and it is so inspirational to see. We know that loneliness, especially amongst older folks, can also contribute to health. At Food Bank, seniors can connect with each other while eating a nutritious meal. What was your most memorable moment while serving with Food Bank? Each time I serve or clear a tray, I make a point to meet the client’s gaze, and seeing their warm smiles light up brightens my day. Tell us about a meal that is special to you and your family. Now that I'm older I live alone. I've come to cherish the simple joy of savoring a delightful meal in a cozy, inviting atmosphere—it's truly the highlight of my day. Every night I cook and plate a meal for myself, I sit by the window, play music, and think back on the day and how grateful I am. Who inspires you to serve? I've always been a caregiver. I believe that people who don't have certain privileges deserve the same care and respect as everyone else.
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.
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.
Fundraising |

A Baby Shower Diaper Donation for Food Bank

When Food Bank Junior Board member JuliaLichtenstein was planning her baby shower, she knew she wanted to give back to her community. So instead of having her guests...

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When Food Bank Junior Board member Julia Lichtenstein was planning her baby shower, she knew she wanted to give back to her community. So instead of having her guests bring gifts, she asked them to donate diapers to Food Bank For New York City instead. And the response was overwhelming – Julia's friends and family donated over 1,500 diapers, which she then dropped off at our Community Kitchen & Food Pantry in Harlem! To learn more about how Julia turned her private celebration into a celebration of giving back to families in our community, read our recent interview with her below! Julia and her newborn. How long have you been involved with Food Bank and what inspires you to stay connected to our mission? I've been supporting Food Bank since my now husband did a fundraiser for his birthday many years ago. As I learned more about Food Bank over the years, I knew I wanted to become more actively involved, and I joined the Junior Board in 2023. I'm consistently amazed by the work Food Bank does to connect New Yorkers in need not only with necessary nutritious food but also critical services like tax preparation to get much needed refunds. Where did the idea for a diaper collection come from? Through my work on the Junior Board, I learned about the Woman to Woman campaign which, conveniently, was active during the same month I planned to hold my baby shower. I wanted to amplify the campaign's goal of connecting women with baby supplies, the cost of which can often be a strain on many households. Were any of your guests surprised to learn that Food Bank provides New Yorkers with resources like diapers? Many of my guests did not realize that Food Bank accepts donations of hygiene products like diapers. I was excited to spread the word that Food Bank is not just about food! There are so many ways that the Food Bank works to empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good. Do you have any tips for New Yorkers looking to engage their communities in acts of giving like this? One of the best parts of working with Food Bank is how simple it can be to make an impact on the community. The guests at my baby shower collectively amassed 1,500 diapers and it was easy to do! Many of the products that Food Bank needs--like pantry staples or personal care products--only require a quick trip to the grocery or drug store. I took the donations uptown to Food Bank the next day and the diapers were distributed to clients right away. My diaper drive is just one example of the many easy ways New Yorkers can gather their communities to collect easy-to-find items and get them into hands that need them. What are some memorable moments you've had while serving with Food Bank? One of my most memorable experiences was spending the day with Leslie Gordon, Food Bank’s President and CEO, and other Food Bank volunteers hearing from Leslie about her many years of work as a food banker and seeing firsthand the operations that keep Food Bank running. It was on that tour that Leslie mentioned that diapers could be among the most expensive personal care items that a household needs and can be a significant financial strain for parents with little ones at home. I did not have children at the time, but her remark stuck with me as I started to grow my family and I knew I wanted to help lighten that burden in whatever small way I could. And finally, what excites you most about motherhood? Think we might get to meet the little one at a distribution someday? The most exciting thing about motherhood is watching your child start to see the world around them. Children bring a fresh sense of wonder and joy that those of us who have been here a bit longer sometimes lose sight of. I can't wait to bring my daughter to a Food Bank volunteer event when she is old enough! I hope to teach her from a young age the importance of being involved in the community around you and lending a hand in whatever way you can. 1,500 Diapers were donated to Food Bank from Julia's Baby Shower. We are so grateful for Julia’s generosity and her contribution to families in New York City. Interested in getting involved? Food Bank can help you make an impact on your special day. Click here to launch your own fundraiser for Food Bank!
Food Insecurity |

Soup's On with Jackie Stromfeld

In honor of National Volunteer Month, we're celebrating the incredible Food Bank volunteers who power our mission each day. These neighbors give of their time,...

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In honor of National Volunteer Month, we're celebrating the incredible Food Bank volunteers who power our mission each day. These neighbors give of their time, resources, and talents to help us empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good. And they don't all do it in conventional ways. Meet Jackie, for instance, who utilized her background in curriculum development to write a first-of-its-kind guide to organizing and operating a community soup kitchen. For Jackie, it was a way for her to use her gifts to help her neighbors fight back against food insecurity. Click this link to join our amazing community of Food Bank volunteers! Jackie Stromfeld standing in Food Bank's Community Kitchen behind a copy of her book, "Soup's On: The Complete Guide for Organizing and Operating a Soup Kitchen in your Community." "I don't want to say that I've been sheltered, but I have," she told us. "I'd read about soup kitchens, read about food insecurity, but I didn't really understand it until I saw it. And it made a huge impact on me." "People have the right to eat, to have healthy lives, and I wanted to be part of that," she continued. "And all of a sudden it came together for me." Jackie serving meals at our Community Kitchen & Food Pantry in Harlem. After years of research, development, and writing, Jackie is proud to share her guide with the world. Packed with tips, how-to guides, best practices, and hundreds of nutritious recipes, this guide will be a boon to those looking to nourish their communities. And it all began with the simple desire to give back. To meet Jackie and hear her story, click the video below: To join Jackie as a Food Bank volunteer, click this link. There, you can learn more about our volunteer community, explore new service opportunities, and sign up for our volunteer newsletter.
Food Assistance |

Celebrating Our Incredible Food Bank Volunteers

April is Global Volunteer Month, a time for us tocelebrate the Food Bank volunteers who devote their time and energy to our missionof empoweringevery New Yorker to...

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April is Global Volunteer Month, a time for us to celebrate the Food Bank volunteers who devote their time and energy to our mission of empowering every New Yorker to achieve food security for good. Each volunteer has played an indispensable role in serving our neighbors and building a stronger, healthier community for all of us. Our Food Bank volunteers are amazing! Click here to join our volunteer community. A member of our Food Bank Junior Board greets a client at our Community Kitchen & Food Pantry in Harlem. Reflecting on a Year of Volunteerism Over the past year, our volunteers have embarked on inspiring journeys, fearlessly taking on the challenges our community faces. The impact of their commitment can be felt across every borough of our amazing city. A Food Bank volunteer greets New Yorkers at a Mobile Pantry distribution. Whether it was packing boxes of nutritious meals for seniors at our Warehouse, distributing groceries to Harlemites from our Community Kitchen & Food Pantry, or packing personal hygiene kits at home, our volunteers have made a difference in the lives of food insecure New Yorkers. Because of their dedication, families have found hope in times of hardship, and individuals have felt the warmth of a caring community around them. Food Bank volunteers packing food at our Warehouse & Distribution Center in the Bronx. We’re excited to share the extraordinary milestones we have hit together: Since February 2023, 7,662 volunteers have served 23,502 hours, translating to $742,663 in value to Food Bank's mission. On March 25, we re-engaged volunteers in our Senior Lunch Service and Community Meal programs for the first time since March 2020. From Food Bank’s Community Pantry, volunteers helped serve 38,957 households. Volunteers at Food Bank’s Warehouse & Distribution Center packed 953,056 pounds of food, converting to 779,595 meals. Additionally, Food Bank’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers have processed more than 3,000 tax returns, helping to put over $5,720,000 in tax refunds back into the pockets of New Yorkers already this year. Food Bank volunteers celebrate the end of a packing shift at our Warehouse & Distribution Center in the Bronx. The Power of Volunteering and Encouragement for the Future Volunteering is the heart of our organization, and its power to bring about transformative change is undeniable. We invite each member of our Food Bank community to consider the profound impact they can make by joining us on this incredible journey. If you're ready to join us in empowering our neighbors to achieve food security for good, click here. There, you’ll learn more about our various volunteering opportunities and how YOU can become part of our volunteer family. A smiling volunteer at our Warehouse & Distribution Center in the Bronx. Thank you to all of our volunteers for your service, determination, and compassion. Together, we are transforming lives and making progress on a more hopeful, dignified, and equitable future for ALL New Yorkers. We are so thankful to volunteers who help power our mission every day. Click here to join us on the ground as a Food Bank volunteer!
Food Assistance |

When Volunteering Becomes a Family Affair

In celebration of National Volunteer Month, we're honored to spotlight Food Bank volunteers who contribute their time, talents, and resources to our mission of...

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In celebration of National Volunteer Month, we're honored to spotlight Food Bank volunteers who contribute their time, talents, and resources to our mission of empowering every New Yorker to achieve food security for good. Our first spotlight is on Debbie, who has been with us since 2019. We interviewed her about the power of volunteering and why it's so important to involve her family in the work she does with us at Food Bank. Meet them all below! Debbie has often brought her family to our warehouse to volunteer at repacks. Why is Food Bank’s mission important to you? Growing up in rural Jamaica, I was witness to families facing food insecurities. From a young age, I was taught to give back to those who have limited access to food, by offering my time and sharing food with those who needed it. Food Bank offers the space and the resources for volunteers to be a part of the solution to end food insecurity in NYC. Giving back to my fellow New Yorkers in need is something my family and I look forward to doing every chance we get. What was your most memorable moment while serving with Food Bank? The most memorable moment while serving is seeing the expression on other volunteers' faces, (especially my children's) when the total number of families that will receive a package is announced. It's always a WOW moment knowing we were all a part of being of service to others. It always amazes me to see how much we accomplish in a short amount of time when we all work together with one goal in mind. Debbie has been a committed volunteer since 2019. Tell us about a meal that is special to you and your family. Ackee and codfish with roasted breadfruit is a meal that my family enjoys. What makes this special is that it's my home country's national dish. Eating it always conjures up some fond memories of me growing up in Jamaica, sharing this meal outdoors with family and friends. I always get nostalgic when I consume this dish. Who inspires you to serve? My kids inspire me to serve. Allowing them to see firsthand that giving back is something everyone should aspire to do, is one of the main reasons I continue to volunteer. I want to inspire them to be agents of change and to make a difference in their community. We are so thankful to volunteers like Debbie and her family who help power our mission every day. Click here to join us on the ground as a Food Bank volunteer!
Food Assistance |

Williamsburg Food Pantry is a Volunteer-Powered Respite

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...

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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.

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