We don’t like to be alarmist, but if the government shutdown continues as anticipated to November 1st (this coming Saturday), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, will likely cease.
Last year we served more than 764,000 visitors, the most we ever have served in one year. 88% of our Choice Pantry, hot meals and case management program participants and 100% of our senior feeding program and nutrition education program participants receive SNAP. That means millions in SNAP dollars to purchase groceries to feed their families, including children and the elderly, will be lost. Those we serve already rely on New York Common Pantry (NYCP) to provide supplemental nutritious food for their families – without their SNAP benefits, these families will have to lean even more heavily on us.
As we have in every crisis, New York Common Pantry will rise to meet these challenges and to serve each and every guest who comes to our door. But we can’t do it alone. In order for NYCP to continue to provide a critical safety net for vulnerable New Yorkers, we need your support.
- Donate Now – Your support will enable us to continue feeding the increased number of guests we already are seeing at our Pantries and support the additional guests we anticipate will need our services when their SNAP benefits are cut.
- Contact Elected Officials — Join us in asking federal, state and city elected officials to step up and pass appropriations bills to keep SNAP funded during the shutdown and to provide additional funding to support frontline anti-hunger organizations like NYCP to keep New Yorkers fed. Find sample letters to send to your elected officials here.
- Come Volunteer – Our robust volunteer program is essential to serving New York City. Get involved by volunteering for a shift at one of our sites to help feed hungry neighbors.
These SNAP figures aren’t numbers on a page; they’re empty plates in our neighbors’ homes. Please help us provide local families with the nutritious food they need now more than ever.
Sincerely,
Stephen Grimaldi
Executive Director
New York Common Pantry