On Tuesday, UJA-Federation of New York announced a $1 million emergency grant intended to help alleviate pressure on local food pantries and strengthen the citywide system of emergency food procurement and distribution.
This $1 million is in addition to $14 million that UJA has already allocated this year to address poverty and food insecurity in New York.
UJA made the following grants:
$750,000 to The Roundtable: Allies for Food Access, which includes UJA nonprofit partner Met Council, and collectively helps feed hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. The grant helps procure food for pantries and invests in technology to boost efficiency and resources long-term.
$250,000 for emergency cash assistance to help clients who cannot access traditional food pantries, enabling them to purchase food. The cash grants will be distributed by UJA nonprofit partners Educational Alliance, Hebrew Educational Society, Moshulu Montefiore Community Center, Commonpoint Queens, Shorefront YM-YWHA of Brighton-Manhattan Beach and YM&YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood.
“The impact of the government shutdown on SNAP benefits created a dramatic surge in food pantry visits—and the crisis is still far from over. Current cuts to food assistance will force even more New Yorkers to make painful choices about feeding their families or spending scarce resources on diapers or formula. What’s needed now is a coordinated, cross-sector response—bringing together philanthropy, government, and industry—to support increasingly vulnerable New Yorkers,” said Eric S. Goldstein, CEO, UJA-Federation of New York.
Recent food insecurity data is striking: Met Council’s Market by Met Council digital food pantry system, funded by UJA-Federation, shows an almost seven-fold increase in clients looking for support since October. Also, a recent report issued by NY Health Foundation shows that hunger rates in New York State have surpassed early pandemic levels, with rising food prices, inflation, and stagnant wages, working families are increasingly relying on food assistance programs, like SNAP, as a lifeline to survive.