Cityzens Giving Emergency Food - New York

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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