Military Veterans Combating Hunger: From NYC to the Middle East

When Sha-Quana was 19, she found herself in a shelter with her baby girl. Times were tough and there were moments when she had only $10 to her name. How would she spend the money? Would she buy a sandwich to feed herself or baby formula for her daughter? You know what choice she made and know that it wasn't a choice at all. Help us get period products, hygiene essentials, and childcare resources to women and girls in need! Sha-Quana Cromwell at Food Bank's Community Kitchen & Food Pantry in Harlem. But things started to turn around when Sha-Quana got a job at Food Bank's Community Kitchen in West Harlem. At first, it was just a paycheck, but it soon turned into something more. Helping to prepare hundreds of meals a day for New Yorkers in need brought a light into Sha-Quana's life. As she says, she's now on a mission. Sha-Quana with Food Bank Culinary Manager Chef Sheri. To learn more about Sha-Quana and see her in action helping to prepare the hundreds of meals we serve a day at our Community Kitchen, click play below: Join us in celebrating the women we serve and those who power our mission every day at this link. Together, we can make progress on a more hopeful, dignified, and equitable future for ALL.

The Holidays Are Here But for Many New Yorkers, So Is Uncertainty For 1.3 million New Yorkers struggling with food insecurity, the holidays often bring anxiety instead of joy. Skyrocketing grocery prices and the steep cost of essentials force impossible decisions: honoring cherished traditions or meeting basic needs. At Food Bank For New York City, we believe food is far more than sustenance - it’s a bridge to culture, family, and dignity. That’s why we’re dedicated to ensuring every neighbor has what they need to celebrate the season without sacrifice. Longtime Food Bank friend and supporter Tracy Morgan helped us deliver 400 turkeys in Brooklyn! How Food Bank Is Fighting Hunger During the Holidays Food Bank For NYC provides food and critical resources to over 800 food pantries and soup kitchens across the five boroughs, including holiday essentials that make the season bright for New Yorkers struggling to feed their families. Last month alone, we delivered nearly 16,000 turkeys to NYC, ensuring our neighbors from all walks of life could enjoy special meals with the people they love most. This includes partnerships like: Stop & Shop in Bed-Stuy, where 400 turkeys reached local families in Brooklyn. Islamic Relief USA in Harlem, which helped us provide 240 Halal turkeys at our Community Kitchen & Food Pantry, ensuring celebrations reflect cultural and dietary values. Our commitment to culturally relevant food is a cornerstone of our work. As Sharin, a Muslim woman who visits our Community Kitchen explains: “It’s so incredible the way Food Bank treats us. For example, during Ramadan, Food Bank will have special Halal meals for those who need them. Food Bank takes extra care and treats us so well.” Sharin receives her Halal turkey from Sultana Ocasio, Director of our Community Kitchen. Stories of Resilience From NYC Pantries At 9 Million Reasons Food Pantry in Queens, Yessica, a recently arrived Peruvian New Yorker, shared how this Food Bank member has become an essential part of her holidays. “This pantry provides us with all the important ingredients we need to cook for the season,” she says. And Yessica isn’t just a recipient - she’s also a volunteer, giving back to the community that welcomed her. Yessica with her little dino (son). For Lonnie, a lifelong New Yorker living with a disability, 9 Million Reasons has brought comfort and tradition to his holidays. “They provide the turkey, the candied yams, the collard greens, the fresh green beans,” he shared with a smile. “The only thing I need is the seasoning... they provide everything else!” Lonnie loves the fresh food he receives at Food Bank member 9 Million Reasons. Why Your Support Matters This Holiday Season Inflation has made the holidays more expensive for everyone, but its burden falls hardest on those with the least. When tight budgets stretch even thinner, celebrations can feel out of reach. This is why Food Bank’s work, and your support, are so vital right now. By contributing to our 40 Million Meals campaign, you can help ensure no New Yorker goes without food this holiday season, helping all our neighbors, no matter who they are or where they come from, celebrate with the dignity they deserve. Click here to give now! Learn more about our work and see how you can make a difference this holiday season at www.foodbanknyc.org. And for a special thank you in advance, watch the video below:

Food Bank For New York City provides food and other resources to a network of over 800 food pantries, campus pantries, soup kitchens, and healthcare partners across the five boroughs. To facilitate learning, dialogue, problem-solving, and creative brainstorming within our network, we regularly host “Borough Chats,” which bring together Food Bank Members of the same borough to talk about issues impacting their communities. Take a step inside this year’s first Food Bank Borough Chat, hosted by longtime Food Bank member agency Bethany United Methodist Church in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Brooklyn Representatives at Bethany United Methodist Church for Food Bank's borough chat. Over 35 representatives from our Brooklyn member agencies showed up on February 7 to discuss community needs across Brooklyn. Attendees heard from Food Bank staff, the Academy at Bank of America, and the Interim Director of the Mayor’s Office of Asylum Seekers. The conversation was warm and productive as network leaders strategized about ways to improve client interactions during food distributions, best practices in recruiting and keeping volunteers, and how to serve the needs of asylum seekers in New York City. Attendees review map of Food Bank member agencies in Brooklyn. The chat was a major success, made possible by our gracious hosts at Bethany United Methodist Church, a Food Bank Member since the 1990s! We are proud to support the work they do to empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good. More About Bethany United Methodist Church Located on St. Johns Place, Bethany United Methodist Church has worked to fight food insecurity in Crown Heights for over thirty-five years, operating a soup kitchen that distributes nearly 1,000 meals a month. This Food Bank member agency also provides coats in the winter and backpacks for school-aged children. To support this work, Food Bank provided Bethany UMC with two double-door freezers to increase capacity in its kitchen. This extra capital support has helped the agency to expand operations, boost production, and serve more nutritious food to its community. Member Spotlight: Amanda Wesley, Executive Director of Bethany UMC’s feeding program. Ms. Wesley has been volunteering at the program for 25 years. She believes that the rising cost of food is one of the most pressing issues when it comes to food insecurity in New York City. Over the past year, she’s seen the program’s line getting longer and longer with some community members visiting during their lunch breaks to help offset food costs. She is enthusiastic about her work at the soup kitchen and loves receiving compliments about the food... a client once told her that the soup kitchen has the best food in Crown Heights! Food Bank is thrilled to offer engagement opportunities to its members across the five boroughs and to cheer on leaders like Ms. Wesley who are making a difference in their communities each day. Participant Violet poses with Amanda, the Executive Director of Bethany United Methodist Church’s feeding program. Visit foodbanknyc.org to learn more about our mission to empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good.