Join City Harvest in the Fight Against Hunger: Help Us Collect 700,000 Pounds of Food as Pantry Visits Surge!

Many New Yorkers are facing tough times this holiday season. To help, City Harvest and the New York Daily News have kicked off their biggest annual food drive, aiming to collect 700,000 pounds of food for those in need.

This initiative started on October 21 and will last until January 16. It comes at a crucial moment as visits to food pantries have hit record highs. Recent cuts of $186 billion to the federal SNAP program could make things even worse, deepening the hunger crisis in the city.

Food insecurity in New York City has soared over the past few years. Pantry visits are now 88% higher each month compared to 2019. Jenna Harris, an Associate Director at City Harvest, emphasized the strain on families: “Too many New Yorkers are going over their budgets, especially with recent changes in food assistance programs.”

She added that the holiday season can be especially hard when money is tight. “We’re encouraging New Yorkers to donate food to help families in need during this important time,” Harris said.

Many community leaders support this cause. FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker shared, “The FDNY is proud to partner with City Harvest and the Daily News again to help our community.”

The food drive seeks items like canned fruits and vegetables, proteins, peanut butter, mac and cheese, juice, cereal, and other nonperishable goods. If you want to donate, drop-off locations include Apple Bank branches, FDNY firehouses, and NYPD precincts throughout the city.

If visiting in person isn’t an option, you can help online. City Harvest offers a platform called #GiveHealthy, where you can buy nonperishable items that will be sent directly to their warehouse.

Local schools, churches, and community groups are encouraged to set up their own food drives too. These small acts can make a big difference in the lives of many struggling New Yorkers.

To find out more about City Harvest and how to help, check out their website at cityharvest.org.

This effort highlights a growing concern. According to the latest Feeding America report, more than 1 in 8 people in New York City face hunger, and the need is only expected to rise. As we approach the holidays, it’s important to remember that many in our city are still seeking hope and support.

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