Throughout September, City Harvest and its Partners will Join with Feeding America to Encourage Individuals to Take Action and Help Feed Our Neighbors in Need
| NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Even in the world’s greatest food-producing nation, more than 46 million people - including 13 million children - in the United States don’t know where their next meal is coming from. To raise awareness of hunger in New York City, where more than 1.2 million residents struggle to put food on the table, City Harvest, the city’s largest food rescue organization and a member of Feeding America, today announced its participation in Hunger Action Month. With potential cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the Farm Bill threatening the wellbeing of millions of people nationwide, it is more important than ever to take action. “In a city that has so much, none of our neighbors should go hungry,” said Jilly Stephens, CEO of City Harvest. “For 35 years, City Harvest has stepped up to rescue nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste and deliver it free of charge to New Yorkers in need. Thanks to the dedication of our partners, volunteers, donors and New Yorkers all across the city, we just rescued our 700 millionth pound of food and got it into the hands of the people who need it most.” Forty percent of households in New York City do not earn enough income to cover expenses such as rent, childcare, transportation, medical costs, and food. Millions of people in the city and across the country rely on SNAP, the cornerstone of the national nutrition safety net, to make ends meet. The Farm Bill, which includes SNAP, is set to expire this month, and there are two competing versions of the new bill in Congress. The House of Representatives’ bill makes harmful cuts to SNAP that make it harder for low-income families and children to access healthy food, while the Senate’s version protects SNAP. City Harvest will follow the legislation as it moves into conference this month and continue to advocate for a strong bill that protects this vital resource for families in New York City and across the country. “City Harvest puts vegetables and nutrition in my house,” said Deborah Daley, a participant in City Harvest’s Mobile Market program. “Between rent, light, gas, and clothes, there’s not much left for food and fresh vegetables. City Harvest helps my family a lot.” Throughout September, City Harvest and its partners will give New Yorkers the opportunity to make a difference by supporting the organization’s work to rescue 61 million pounds of nutritious food this year and deliver it free of charge to hundreds of community food programs across the city’s five boroughs. Every day New Yorkers can get involved by participating in:
“For those of us who find our passion in nourishing and nurturing guests in our restaurants, there’s a strong impulse to feed people in our community who don’t have enough,” said Danny Meyer, Founder and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group. “I am grateful to City Harvest and our guests for coming together to maximize support for our fellow New Yorkers during Hunger Action Month.” For complete information on all of City Harvest’s Hunger Action Month activities, visit cityharvest.org/hungeractionmonth. The public is encouraged to join the discussion online by tagging City Harvest on Facebook (CityHarvestNYC), Twitter (@CityHarvest) and Instagram (@CityHarvestNYC) and using #HungerActionMonth. About City Harvest Press Contact: View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/city-harvest-announces-hunger-action-month-partnerships-to-raise-awareness-of-hunger-in-new-york-city-300705220.html SOURCE City Harvest |
