Fund for New York City Hunger Relief Receives $1 Million Grant from the Starr International Foundation to Provide Food and Assistance in NYC Area

NEW YORK, June 8, 2009 — The Fund for New York City Hunger Relief today announced that it will receive a $1 million grant from the Starr International Foundation, in response to a significant increase in the number of people seeking help feeding their families at food pantries and soup kitchens throughout the city. The need for emergency food has increased 30% nationally in the past year, according to Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger relief organization.

The Fund for New York City Hunger Relief is a collaboration among Feeding America, Food Bank For New York City, and City Harvest. Since its establishment six years ago, the Fund has provided support to more than 200 soup kitchens, food pantries and other charitable food providers in the five boroughs of New York, through grants aimed at building the infrastructure and capacity of emergency feeding programs. The Fund for New York City Hunger Relief has helped to build a stronger and more secure system to fight hunger on its front lines.

The Starr International Foundation grant will be used to extend the project into its seventh year. The funds will be dedicated primarily to providing more food to New Yorkers affected by the ongoing recession. This continued investment will help to ensure that emergency feeding programs remain a resource for hungry individuals and families in New York City, increasing the ability of these agencies to meet the rising demand for food.

Research conducted by the Food Bank For New York City shows that in the midst of job losses, rising costs and the credit crunch resulting from the economic crisis, half of all New York City residents are having difficulty affording food. In addition, 2.1 million New Yorkers who have never accessed food assistance before (soup kitchens, food pantries and/or food stamps) are concerned that they may need to access services by year's end. In a recent survey of a representative group of partner agencies conducted by City Harvest, many agencies reported that they are serving new people and that households are accessing emergency food far more frequently than before the current economic downturn.