Spring 2025 Pantry Press Newsletter
Rising Above the Storm to Serve our Community
The scarcity of eggs and their soaring prices are emblematic of the high cost of food that New Yorkers struggle with daily. It is no surprise then that 1 in 3 New Yorkers has used a food pantry in the past three years. Among them, 2 out of 3 were employed, and the majority worked consistently throughout those three years.
According to a new poll commissioned by No Kid Hungry New York, a majority (85%) of New Yorkers have reported that the cost of food is rising faster than their income, for the second year in a row. To cover these high food costs, the same poll shows 53% of New Yorkers have taken on additional debt in the past 12 months as they struggle to feed their families. Because we purchase 59% of the food we serve, we also are affected by the high cost of food.
While we see the increased need faced by city residents and have stepped up our provision of healthy food to communities in need, we are being squeezed by federal and city government funding cuts. USDA terminated the program that funded New York Food for New York Families, which granted New York Common Pantry (NYCP) more than $1.5 million over two years to purchase fresh fruit, vegetables and meats from local farmers and items like freshly baked bread from local food producers. In addition, the city is considering slashing its budget to support emergency food providers by 58%.
We are standing firm against these headwinds, pressing elected officials to renew our funding and continuing to purchase food in bulk to reduce costs, increase our food rescue efforts, and expand our volunteer program so that we are able to feed our neighbors in need. As our guest Lisbet Negron said, “Now $100 only purchases two bags of groceries at the store. That’s why I come to NYCP. They give me fresh fruits and vegetables. They even give me pet food for my two dogs. I’m grateful.”
Please read more in our: Spring 2025 Pantry Press Newsletter