Summary
For 18 of our 21 years, THE RIVER FUND NEW YORK has been operating the ONLY mobile pantry program in New York City, taking care of extremely needy families in New York's most desperate communities. As a result of this depth of experience and well-practiced teams, we have been, in many instances, the first food providers to get into the areas hardest hit by Hyperstorm Sandy. Our Mobile Pantry Operations, get-in, set-up in minutes and begin serving substantial quantities of ready-to-eat foods.
What is the issue, problem, or challenge?
In all of these areas, entire neighborhoods have lost their supply of electricity and cooking-gas; most families have experienced flooding of their homes-up to 7 feet above street level. The effect has been the total destruction of refrigerators, stoves, washing machines and dryers, sofas, kitchen cabinets and other furniture as well as everything else that might have been in basement and first-floor apartments. Cars were totally submerged in the muddy waters-or floated away.
How will this project solve this problem?
In this situation, help did not arrive in the form of a military convoy, as many may have expected--but in the form of The River Fund Mobile Pantry. Coordinating with local Congressmen and other officials with access to the best and most up-to-date information, The River Fund is able to identify the areas of greatest need and achieve the greatest possible impact. Officials of the New York City Police Department remarked, "We've never seen anyone get-in, set-up and begin serving as quickly."
Potential Long Term Impact
The River Fund Mobile Pantry will have a long-term impact on the communities affected by Hurricane Sandy through providing necessary sustenance and support during the process of disaster recovery.
Project Message
"We've never seen anyone get in, set-up and begin serving as quickly. You guys got here--and in 20 minutes you were serving people! Just amazing."
- Name withheld., Senior Officer of the New York City Police Dept.
Funding Information
Total Funding Received to Date: $38,762
Funding Information
This project is now in implementation and no longer available for funding.
Received funds will be used to accomplish concrete objectives as
indicated in the project's "Activities" section. Updates will be posted under the
"Project Report" tab as they become available.
Donors' contributions and pledges to this project totaled $38,762
.
The original project funding goal was $35,000.