Food insecurity is the condition of not having access to sufficient food, or food of an adequate quality, to meet basic needs. Food insecurity doesn't just affect our unhoused neighbors; working adults, children, and seniors are the populations who are the most impacted.
Increasing Food Insecurity in New York City
Food, like meals and groceries, costs more in our city, and an estimated 1.3 million people (almost 15%) in New York City are food insecure. This number is expected to increase as 1.8 million New Yorkers who rely on the USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, once known as the Food Stamp Program, will be impacted by recent cuts to federal funding.
Read our CEO's response to food insecurity >>
Introducing the Hunger Collective: Meeting the Needs of NYC
As access to SNAP benefits remain precarious and USDA has cut $500 million in funds to food banks, Hope For New York is filling in the gap to reach more food insecure New Yorkers.
Here's how: We launched the Hope for New York Hunger Collective, which is our three-part approach to holistically address food insecurity by leveraging the power of collective action.
As demand for affordable food increases, Hope For New York is dedicated to increasing access to fresh, nutritious, and culturally-appropriate meals and shelf-stable pantry items through the Hunger Collective. Watch our video to learn more and then support our program to scale it further!
Affiliates Who Are Part of the Hunger Collective
Other Ways You Can Support
PRAY
Follow our monthly prayer guide to pray for a community in need, including hungry neighbors who are food insecure. hfny.org/prayerguide
SERVE
Get proximate with a community in need by serving meals and/or volunteering at a food pantry. As demand rises, every extra pair of hands helps ensure no neighbor is turned away.
SHARE
Provide tangible resources like our Resource Card (which lists organizations that provide meals and pantry items) and this Hunger Free America’s resource map to search for local food assistance.