Starvation reduction organizations and anti-hunger advocates rallied on the steps of Metropolis Corridor final week calling on Mayor Eric Adams to completely fund the Group Meals Connections program at $100 million. The demand comes as meals insecurity reaches alarming ranges throughout New York Metropolis.
Organized by the Meals Financial institution for New York Metropolis, the rally drew over 50 contributors who stood exterior for greater than an hour holding posters that learn “Fresh food is a human right,” “Food Bank for NYC,” and “Feed our communities.” Chants like “Hear our plea–increase CFC,”
“Fight, fight, fight–food is a human right,” and “Funding now” echoed on the steps of Metropolis Corridor.
Contributors on the June 18 rally heard from nonprofit leaders, volunteers, public servants, and New Yorkers who depend on meals help applications. Collectively, they known as consideration to the rising starvation disaster within the metropolis and the pressing want for presidency help.
Among the many audio system was Jilly Stephens, CEO of Metropolis Harvest, who emphasised town’s growing demand for meals pantries.
“Visits to soup kitchens and food pantries across the city are at the highest level on record,” mentioned Stephens. “In 2019, there were about 25 million visits to food pantries and soup kitchens across the city. Last year, there were more than 46 million visits to those same organizations.”
Stephens additionally cited knowledge by Feeding America, displaying that one in six New Yorkers is experiencing meals insecurity, up from one in seven the yr earlier than and one in eight in 2019.
Grace Bonilla, Chief Govt Officer at United Approach of New York Metropolis, additionally referred to the report, which revealed that 17% of New York Metropolis residents skilled meals insecurity in 2023.
“This is not a surprise,” mentioned Bonilla.
Bonilla and others additionally warned a couple of current Home reconciliation invoice that proposes the most important cuts to the Supplemental Diet Help Program (SNAP) in U.S. historical past. The invoice would reduce practically $300 billion from this system, which helps low- and no-income people entry meals.
“New York City is on the brink of a hunger crisis, not because of the lack of food security organizations, but because the social safety net is unraveling beneath us while Washington negotiates,” mentioned Bonilla.
Jason Cone, founder and chief of Robin Hood’s Public Coverage workforce, issued an analogous warning. “We’re here today because the storm is on the horizon,” he mentioned, urging the mayor and metropolis council to extend CFC funding to $100 million on behalf of Robin Hood and different nonprofits.
At the moment, CFC funding stands at $50 million—only a fraction of Mayor Adams’ $115.1 billion price range.
Picture by Manuela Moreya
Adams admin to take care of funding
Metropolis Corridor defended the allocation in an announcement, noting that the administration has doubled funding for Group Meals Connections since 2022 and plans to take care of the $50 million funding for the subsequent two years.
“Our food assistance programs play a vital role in ensuring that New Yorkers in need have access to fresh and healthy food,” the assertion learn.
The administration additionally highlighted broader efforts to help low-income New Yorkers, together with expanded entry to rental help vouchers, report ranges of inexpensive housing manufacturing, and the expansion of the Truthful Fares program.
“We continue to closely monitor ongoing needs as we work with our city partners and key stakeholders to ensure we are adequately funding the program moving forward,” the assertion added.
Audio system burdened that the $100 million determine was not arbitrary.
“It is not a random number on a spreadsheet,” mentioned Bonilla. “This is about dignity and meeting the moment, about making sure that no parent goes to bed worried that they can’t feed their child, about making sure that our pantries can make their door keep their doors open, the refrigerator stops and their lines move.”
Leslie Gordon, Chief Govt Officer of the Meals Financial institution for New York Metropolis, strengthened the decision for CFC funding.
“CFC critically fills in the gaps where federal and state programs fall short, and now the mayor may widen that gap,” mentioned Gordon. “We can’t, and we won’t let that happen.”
Romero Torres, a 73-year-old native New Yorker who is dependent upon meals applications corresponding to SNAP and Social Safety, was additionally among the many audio system. These applications “help me go forward,” mentioned Torres.
Torres described meals pantry staff and rally organizers as his lifeline.
“These people behind me, they support me, and I need to support them by having a voice here today,” mentioned Torres. “Mayor Adams, do not cut us out. We ain’t going nowhere.”
Picture by Manuela Moreya
Alex Hughes, a member of Venture Hospitality, urged metropolis officers to see the problem as a nonpartisan one.
“We’re here today with a message that should not be a political one. Food is a human right,” Hughes mentioned. “Snap is being cut. The largest cut in the program’s history is being proposed. We need the city to help fill the gap.”
Hughes described seeing dad and mom push their youngsters alongside of their empty grocery carts and ready within the pantry line with children within the automotive. “Mr. Mayor, believe the evidence of your eyes and your ears, and the hunger crisis is getting worse.”
The ultimate speaker on the rally was Joan Benefiel, Director of the Greenpoint Starvation Program, who underscored the results of meals insecurity. “A hungry city is not a safe city,” mentioned Benefiel.
Benefiel described how starvation leaves communities weak to rising psychological well being struggles, together with melancholy and nervousness, and the way it hinders youngsters’s capability to focus in class as a result of lack of correct diet.
“That is not New York,” mentioned Benefiel.
