Some city-funded food pantries will begin offering pet food next week for the first time — as part of the Mamdani administration’s effort to help New Yorkers afford to keep their pets.
Starting on Monday, 22 food pantries will provide dog and cat food using about $500,000 in city funding, city officials said.
Pantries cite growing demand for pet food as owners struggle to feed themselves and their pets. But few places in the city offer free pet food. With rising costs and tighter budgets, officials said many New Yorkers are surrendering their pets, crowding animal shelters.
“For many of us, a pet isn’t a luxury. It’s family. And when budgets get tight, we know people will skip their own meals before they let their animals go hungry, or worse, pressured to give them up,” Department of Social Services Commissioner Erin Dalton said in a statement.
Dalton said the measure is part of the Community Food Connection program, which funds 700 pantries across the five boroughs. This year, the Mamdani administration boosted funding for the program, including $500,000 for pet food.
The pantries will offer dry and canned food, including brands such as Gravy Train, Purina One, 9 Lives, and Cat Café. Those interested in finding a participating pantry can visit the Food Help NYC map or see the list below:
BronxPart of the Solution: 2759 Webster Ave., 10458New York Common Pantry: 1290 Hoe Ave., 10459Davidson Community Center: 2038 Davidson Ave., 10453The Kingsbridge Heights Community Center: 3067 Kingsbridge Terrace, 10463QueensFirst United Methodist Church of Jamaica: 162-10 Highland Ave., 11432River Fund: 89-11 Lefferts Blvd., 11418Yeshua Worldwide Ministries Food Pantry: 7911 Caldwell Ave., 11379Hour Children Community Outreach: 36-49 11th St., 11106BrooklynCommunity Help in Park Slope: 200 Fourth Ave., 11217Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty: 5361 Preston Court, 11234On the Go Relief: 2832 Fulton St., 11207St. John’s Bread and Life Food Pantry: 795 Lexington Ave., 11221The Campaign Against Hunger: 2004 Fulton St., 11233YMCA Community Market: 2980 West 29th St., 11224ManhattanHoly Apostles Soup Kitchen Pantry: 296 Ninth Ave., 10001New York Common Pantry: 8 East 109th St., 10029St. Clemens Food Pantry: 423 West 46th St., 10036The Father’s Heart Ministries: 543-545 East 11th St., 10009The Lower Eastside Girls Club: 402 East Eighth St., 10009Trinity’s Services and Food for the Homeless: 602 East Ninth St., 10009Staten IslandProject Hospitality: 205 Canal St., 10304Feeding with TLC: 309 St. Paul’s Ave., 10304