HARLEM, Manhattan (WABC) — On this Giving Tuesday, ABC 7 New York is highlighting a nonprofit organization on a mission to help put food on the table for New Yorkers in need.
Food Bank for New York City is the largest hunger-relief organization in NYC, with nearly 800 partners across all five boroughs.
Over 500 meals are served every day between lunch and dinner at Food Bank for NYC’s community kitchen on West 116th Street in Harlem.
The nonprofit also gives out free produce, rice and beans, other sources of protein, bread and pasta to about 350 other people at the pantry.
The food is all donated to the Food Bank for New York City.
“They’re your neighbors, they’re right next to you. They ride the train with you, they work with you, they live next to you,” Food Bank for NYC Director Sultana Ocasio said.
“You interact with them every day, folks who are not sharing that they are in need. Folks who are not sharing that they can barely pay rent and don’t have enough money to buy food for themselves and their families.”
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According to the nonprofit, every $1 donated can help make five hot meals to those in need.
“We have the ability to make that dollar feed as many New Yorkers as we can,” Ocasio said.
One man at the community kitchen told Eyewitness News he appreciates what the nonprofit is doing for people.
“It’s an opportunity to be out of the house, be around people, eat a good meal,” the man said.
Food Bank for NYC also holds exercise classes every morning in its multi-use room at the community kitchen.
The nonprofit says it has seen longer lines and a surge in need ever since SNAP benefits were halted.
Sherri Jefferson is the head chef at Food Bank for NYC and has worked with the nonprofit for nearly 10 years. Jefferson has seen firsthand the hardships that Food Bank for NYC recipients face.
“Right now, they’re still struggling. A lot of people are in debt now, even more so, because they used finances as opposed to their SNAP benefits,” Jefferson said. “And now that they have regained access to their SNAP benefits, but we’re still in debt because we’ve used the finances — credit cards, whatever money we had.”
Monique Lewis is one of the recipients that Food Bank for NYC serves. She works as a teacher for the city’s school system, and depends on the produce from Food Bank for NYC to help feed her three children.
Lewis says there is a misunderstanding about the people who come to food pantries. Sometimes, life happens.
“I never imagined myself to be a representative for folks who just have life circumstances. You know, things happen,” Lewis said.
If you would like to donate to Food Bank for NYC, you can visit www.foodbanknyc.org.
ABC 7 New York is a community partner with the Food Bank for NYC.
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