Food Bank for New York City Serves Seniors on National Food Bank Day

Serving Meals on National Food Bank Day

• 🍽️ On National Food Bank Day, volunteers and staff served meals at the Community Kitchen in West Harlem, one of 800 soup kitchens and pantries run by the Food Bank for New York City.
• 🍲 The menu included vegetable lasagna, garden salad, and garlic toast, with over 500 meals prepared daily by Chef Sher Jefferson and her team.

Rising Need and Food Insecurity

• 📈 Food bank officials report that recent cuts to food benefits and expanded work requirements have increased the need for services.
• ⚠️ The lines are longer, with more seniors and children relying on the food bank, affecting everyone in the community.
• 💰 The average monthly grocery bill has nearly tripled since 1983, from $234 to $659, even before adjusting for inflation, highlighting growing food insecurity.

Community Support and Volunteerism

• ❤️ Andrea Bedford expressed gratitude for the food bank, stating that many people would go hungry without it.
• 🤝 WABC is a proud partner of the Food Bank for New York City, the city's largest hunger relief organization.
• 💡 Volunteer David Spessner emphasized that this is a solvable crisis and encouraged continued support through donations and volunteering.
• 🌃 As the lunch service concluded, the team prepared to serve another 300 meals for dinner.