Cityzens Giving Emergency Food - New York

It's been a hard winter for New Yorkers, especially for those we serve at New York Common Pantry (NYCP). April 2024’s New York Hunger Survey, conducted by Change Research for Share Our Strength Foundation’s No Kid Hungry campaign, revealed that 78% of NYC households say the cost of food is rising faster than their income. More than 2 in 5 people are buying less protein (fish/meat/eggs) due to cost, and nearly 1 in 3 bought less fresh produce last year. The Robin Hood Foundation Poverty Tracker, released in February 2025, confirmed this troubling trend: New York City is experiencing a 25% overall poverty rate–a figure even higher than 2022 ‘s record highs.

 We witness the results of this economic squeeze upon our guests who, despite their best efforts, don’t earn enough to cover basics like housing, food, healthcare, transportation and childcare. Picture a young mother. Maria, who juggles two jobs to make ends meet. She wakes before dawn to get her young children ready for school, then takes the subway to her first job. By the time she returns home, her husband has already put their children to bed. Maria’s paychecks barely cover the rent, leaving her with the agonizing decision of whether to pay the bills or buy groceries. The weight of these choices is a daily burden, one that no parent should have to bear. 

Our neighbors are hungry, and NYCP is here to help. No matter how people arrive at our doorstep, NYCP is here to welcome them. We provide services at three strategically located sites and, through our mobile programs, bring support directly to communities in need. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024,  we served over 11 million meals to 729,000 visitors, and from July-December 2024, the demand has continued to grow: NYCP has seen the total number of meals distributed increase by 6% over the same period of 2023, with an increase of 15% at Choice Pantry Bronx and through our Mobile Pantry. 

But there’s so much more we offer our guests. Over our 40-plus years of serving the community, we’ve seen countless people like Maria. People who are forced to make impossible decisions, often sacrificing their own well-being to ensure their families have enough to eat. What our years of service has taught us is that people long for an outstretched hand; a kind word, and someone to really listen to their struggles. That’s why our case managers sit with each person, listen to their stories, and build trust. With patience and open minds, our teams determine what kind of assistance each guest needs and work tirelessly to help them. NYCP provides more than sustenance; we provide our guests with hope: the hope that their stories will be heard, hope they will receive the help they need, and hope for a future that will be better than the past. NYCP is a haven for all New Yorkers seeking assistance, and we are grateful to you for the support that enables our work to continue. 

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When Mark Fuhry was a child, his parents were addicts and his family struggled with food insecurity. After college, he secured a job as a NYC property manager, earning a six-figure income--Mark was well on his way to a life of prosperity and security. But drug use, an abusive relationship, and HIV left Mark unemployed, homeless, and alone. “I hit rock bottom,” Mark said.

Then, two years ago, Mark’s life took a turn for the better: he started receiving assistance from New York Common Pantry’s Project Dignity, which offers the homeless a bridge back to well-being by providing basics like on-site showers, laundry, haircuts, and a mailing address; and Help 365, that provides case-management services to our guests and enrolls them in our Choice Pantry program, which enables Pantry participants to choose their own grocery packages from a selection of nutritious food. “New York Common Pantry has been there every step of my journey back, showing me kindness, giving me encouragement, instilling hope, and putting soul into the process of my recovery,” Mark shared. 

Today, Mark is sober, healthy, and runs daily: “I have my own apartment now and come for Choice Pantry. I dream of going to law school to help others. With NYCP’s help, I’m taking it one day at a time.” 

In the last year, New York Common Pantry has helped our guests access $10.7 million in benefits while feeding 11 million meals to 729,000 visitors. And–despite the continued growth in the need for our services–we have been able to lower the average cost at our Choice Pantry to less than one dollar per meal!

New York Common Pantry remains committed to reducing hunger while promoting the dignity, health, and self-sufficiency of the people we serve–but we cannot do any of this without your help.

Thank you.

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