Hunger/Homelessness

The Original SoupMan Partners With World Hunger Year and New York City Coalition Against Hunger
February 25, 2009

Soup Kitchen International, the creators of the Zagat-rated soups of Al Yeganeh, the legendary soup man who inspired the "Soup Episode" on Seinfeld, today announced a partnership with World Hunger Year (WHY) and the New York City Coalition Against Hunger (NYCCAH) to continue Yeganeh's long-standing tradition of helping New Yorkers in need. "Al's Feed the Hungry Foundation," The Original SoupMan's non-profit charity headed up by Major League Baseball Hall of Fame legend, Reggie Jackson, will donate 800 gallons of soup to three soup kitchens: New York City Rescue Mission, Union United Methodist Church, and Bowery Mission. To commemorate the donation to the three soup kitchens, WHY, NYCCAH and The Original SoupMan will be holding a media event on Wednesday, February 25 at 12 pm at the New York City Rescue Mission located at 90 Lafayette St in New York, NY. As a special guest, Lisa Bouchelle, one of WHY's "Artists Against Hunger and Poverty", will be on hand to perform the single, "Time", featured on WHY's "Serve3" benefit album.

New Study Says Teens Now More Aware of the Needs of Others
February 24, 2009

Though many U.S. adults consider today's teens to be selfish and lazy, nearly seven out of ten parents say the current economic climate has made their teens "more aware of the needs of others," according to a new World Vision study. The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, examines parents' perceptions of their teenagers during the current recession. The study also illustrates that more than half of parents say their teens support charities actively, for example, by volunteering time in a "fasting event" such as World Vision's upcoming 30 Hour Famine happening February 27th and 28th, 2009.

Newly Poor Swell Lines at Food Banks
February 20, 2009

Once a crutch for the most needy, food pantries have responded to the deepening recession by opening their doors to what Rosemary Gilmartin, who runs the Interfaith Food Pantry here, described as “the next layer of people” — a rapidly expanding roster of child-care workers, nurse’s aides, real estate agents and secretaries facing a financial crisis for the first time.

Island Harvest Scores Top Marks From Nationally Respected Charity Rating Agency
February 18, 2009

Of all America’s charities rated by the nationally respected independent evaluator Charity Navigator, just seven percent receive a consecutive four-star evaluation. Island Harvest, Long Island’s largest hunger relief organization, joins that rank scoring four stars — Charity Navigator’s highest rating — for the fourth consecutive year. The coveted designation demonstrates that Island Harvest consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, outperforming most other charitable organizations across the country.