Food assistance resources
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Free meals for all New Yorkers
6/23/2020 Grab & Go Meal Hubs at schools will continue operating on a summer schedule at 400 sites, weekdays from 7:30am - 1:30pm starting Monday (6/29/2020). Find the closest open Meal Hub at schools.nyc.gov/freemeals or text “NYC FOOD” or “NYC COMIDA” to 877-877. schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/free-meals.
4/3/2020 Free Grab and Go meals: 3 free meals will be available for ALL New Yorkers. Meals Hubs will operate for children and families from 7:30am to 11:30am, and for adults from 11:30am to 1:30pm. No one will be turned away at any time. schools.nyc.gov/freemeals. Adults and children can pick up three meals at one time. Vegetarian and halal options available at all sites. No dining space is available, so meals must be eaten off premises. Parents and guardians may pick up meals for their children. No registration or ID required. Murray Hill location: Manhattan Academy for Arts & Language, 111 East 33RD Street. Families can learn the location of the nearest meal hub by texting FOOD or COMIDA to 877-877 or visit website opt-osfns.org/schoolfoodny/meals/default.aspx. OR schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/free-meals.
Seniors
Programming at several senior centers across the city will be suspended until further notice. For meals see free grab and go meals above. Also see food delivery below.
Food assistance
5/24/2020 FoodHelp NYC locator map maps.nyc.gov/foodhelp/#map-page
4/11/2020 Key NYC food resources at nyc.gov/GetFood or call 311 and say “Get Food”.
4/3/2020 SNAP online ordering: New Yorkers can use their SNAP benefits to order online. For more info visit www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/snap-online-shopping.page.
EaterNY has released A Guide to Restaurant Wholesalers Now Selling Groceries to the Public. While costs are usually higher for these high-end groceries, this may prove to be a solution for many Manhattan families ny.eater.com/2020/4/2/21203557/nyc-restsaurant-grocery-wholesale-coronavirus-fish-meat.
5/3/2020 New York will distribute $25 million to food banks across the state through the Nourish New York Initiative. This initiative is working to quickly reroute New York's surplus agricultural products to populations who need them most. (Source: Gov. Cuomo's email of 5/3/2020)
4/13/2020 the City will start transitioning home delivered senior meals into the GetFoodNYC program. Dial 311 to register.
4/17/2020 One Week of Free Groceries: The Department of Probation, Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON) Nutrition Kitchens, in partnership with the Food Bank of NYC and the NYC Young Men’s Initiative (YMI) have opened five kitchens – one in each borough – to distribute free food, available to any New Yorker who needs it visit https://www1.nyc.gov/site/neon/programs/nutrition-kitchen.page.
The nonprofit expensify.org will reimburse SNAP participants $50 after they use their EBT card for approved purchases and submit a receipt. They are allocating these funds to help families in need purchase essential groceries during the COVID-19 outbreak. There's no "catch" and the money is directly deposited into the participant's bank account. Visit Expensify.org/hunger for more information.
3/24/2020, FreshDirect is partnering with local organizations and businesses to give away 2,000 boxes of shelf-stable food daily across the five boroughs to those who need it. To take advantage of these food packages, visit your borough president's website for pickup locations. manhattanbp.nyc.gov
Emergency food resources. access.nyc.gov/programs/emergency-food-assistance
Food banks. If you are struggling with food insecurity or would like to volunteer at a site email Council Member Carlina Rivera's office at district2@council.nyc.gov.
Find a soup kitchen or food pantry near you
Interactive map for finding soup kitchens, food pantries, senior centers, or SNAP enrollment sites. foodbanknyc.org/get-help
Hunger Free America's Neighborhood Guides to food & assistance. Free food and assistance is available in New York City. Users can learn how and where to access SNAP/Food Stamps, WIC, School and Summer Meals, senior meals, soup kitchens and food pantries, and farmer's markets that accept SNAP as payment. https://www.hungervolunteer.org/neighborhood-guides-food-assistance
Food delivery
The City of New York is providing assistance to New Yorkers during the COVID-19 crisis by delivering meals to those who cannot access food themselves. cv19engagementportal.cityofnewyork.us/#/display/5e7555117ad6750216160409
The City has created the GetFoodNYC food delivery program to provide food for coronavirus (COVID-19)-vulnerable and food-insecure New Yorkers not currently served through existing food delivery programs. Sign up here or call 311.
cv19engagementportal.cityofnewyork.us
The City is now offering meal delivery for seniors. Meals will no longer be available for pick-up at senior centers. This service is available across all five boroughs. Seniors can sign up by contacting the nearest senior center or calling 212-AGING-NYC or 311.
NYC Food Delivery Driver Portal cv19engagementportal.cityofnewyork.us. Established by the TLC. The City will be hiring drivers from the hired-car community to deliver food to homebound New Yorkers in need.
Volunteer and donation opportunities
5/3/2020 Gov. Cuomo is asking philanthropies that would like to help the state's food banks to email COVID19Philanthropies@exec.ny.gov.
Council Member Keith Powers's office is monitoring volunteer opportunities for organizations who need support. You are encouraged to exercise an abundance of caution, Citymeals on Wheels, God’s Love We Deliver, and other emergency food organizations have informed his office that they are looking for assistance. If you would like to get involved, please reach out to his office at kpowers@council.nyc.gov.
Senior services are considered essential and some centers may need assistance from volunteers in providing these critical meals to clients. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer's office at info@manhattanbp.nyc.gov.
Food Bank is calling for volunteers to help prepare food, pack, etc. foodbanknyc.org/volunteer
Donate NYC's food portal is designed for organizations and businesses only. Individual residents wishing to donate their own excess food may search donateNYC’s online map to find locations throughout the city. For more information please review the food portal training videos or email donate@dsny.nyc.gov.
The Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center is looking for volunteer callers to help update their 59 Coronavirus NYC Neighborhood Food Resource Guides https://www.nycfoodpolicy.org/coronavirus-nyc-food-reports. These guides are essential to helping keep communities informed on everything from soup kitchens to farmers markets to available resources for families depending on the SNAP and WIC programs. If you are interested in volunteering, please email info@nycfoodpolicy.org with the subject line: “Volunteer for Food Resource Guides.”
Food service delivery companies
Fresh Direct: freshdirect.com
Peapod: peapod.com
Instacart: instacart.com
Amazon Fresh: amazon.com/alm/storefront?almBrandId=QW1hem9uIEZyZXNo
Foodkick: foodkick.com
City Meals on Wheels: 212-687-1234
Invisible Hands: (free courier service for seniors/at risk community members) invisiblehandsdeliver.com/about-us
Resources for food help
English www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/contact/services/COVID-19FoodAssistance.shtml