NYC food pantries are busier than ever before, up more than 80% since before the pandemic, a local hunger-fighting group announced on Tuesday.
City Harvest, a NYC food rescue organization, released new data on Sept. 3 showing that average monthly visits to area food pantries and soup kitchens this year are up 82% compared to 2019.
The alarming data shows food distribution sites are seeing 1 million more visits each month than in 2019, making the need for food assistance in the city the highest on record.
The need is even higher than it was during the pandemic peak in 2020-2021.
Big factor: Higher cost of living
City Harvest noted the high cost of living contributing to the increase.
Jilly Stephens, CEO at City Harvest, said food insecurity rates are increasing as food, child care, and housing costs remain high.
“These costs make it harder for New Yorkers to afford the fresh, nutritious food their families need to thrive,” Stephens said. “It is essential that we all step up to help provide free, high-quality food to the millions of New Yorkers who are experiencing food insecurity.”
Representatives from the organization said it would rescue more than 81 million pounds of “high-quality, nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste” and deliver it for free to soup kitchens and food pantries across the city.
This fall, City Harvest is launching City Harvest Produce Pals, a school-based food distribution program providing free, fresh fruits and vegetables to students and their families at some New York City schools.
The program will start this fall at schools, including Democracy Prep in Harlem and P.S. 177 in Brooklyn. City Harvest representatives said they plan to expand the program to additional schools in the future.
September, which is Hunger Action Month, will see more efforts from local organizations to fight food insecurity throughout the city. For example, the restaurant Inday will donate $1 to City Harvest from each Karma Bowl sold at its Williamsburg location.
And Lasting Change, a nonprofit-led change roundup app, will highlight City Harvest as a featured charity.
“This Hunger Action Month—and year-round—we invite our fellow New Yorkers to join us to support our work,” Stephens said. “Together, we will rescue and deliver good food for free for our neighbors.”
NYC food pantries and poverty rate
Meanwhile, according to the City Council, NYC’s poverty rate is almost twice the national average. In 2022, the national overall poverty rate was 12%, but the city’s poverty rate was 23% that same year.
The City Council reported that as of April 2024, NYC had 511 emergency food provider locations. That includes 428 food pantries and 79 soup kitchens, though some sites overlap and operate as both.
For more information on food distribution sites in New York City, visit 311 online or cityharvest.org.
