This Hunger Action Month, Help City Harvest Feed New Yorkers

City Harvest, New York City’s first and largest food rescue organization, has announced its participation in Hunger Action Month: Feeding America’s annual campaign to raise awareness of food insecurity across the country and mobilize the public to take action to feed those in need. With the rate of food insecurity expected to surge nearly 40% among all New Yorkers and nearly 50% among New York City children due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, City Harvest’s work of rescuing and delivering food, free of charge, for those in need is more important and urgent than ever.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, City Harvest has rescued more than 55 million pounds of food and delivered it to hundreds of community food programs across the five boroughs, as well as its nine Mobile Markets, 15 Community Partner Distributions, and the 32 Emergency Food Distribution Sites it partnered to open in response to the crisis. Throughout September, City Harvest and its partners will give New Yorkers multiple opportunities to support the organization’s work and help feed their neighbors. This year, City Harvest will rescue a record-breaking 109 million pounds of nutritious food for New Yorkers in need.

All New Yorkers can support City Harvest during Hunger Action Month by visiting cityharvest.org/hungeractionmonth and:

• Donating Funds: To help deliver as much food to as many of our neighbors as possible, two generous friends of City Harvest are matching all gifts, dollar-for-dollar, up to $100,000, during the month of September. Each dollar donated will help feed five New Yorkers in need for a day.

• Donating Food: (City Harvest’s High Holidays Food Drive, Sept 8–Oct 9): Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people served through our kosher agencies has nearly doubled, compared to the same time last year. Help City Harvest feed our kosher-observing neighbors in need during the High Holidays by running a traditional or online food drive. Our trucks will pick up donations of 50 pounds or more in-person, or you can build an online food drive page through our partner #GiveHealthy and purchase items online to be delivered directly to the City Harvest warehouse. All donated food will be delivered to kosher community food programs across the city.

• Joining City Harvest’s Running Club: Join the Team City Harvest Running Club to raise awareness and funds for City Harvest. Club members can participate in virtual 5k and 10k runs throughout the month, and have access to virtual Wellness Wednesday events, such as healthy cooking demonstrations.

• Volunteering: City Harvest was founded by a group of volunteers in 1982, and today, nearly 10,000 volunteers donate their time each year. Throughout the month of September, individuals are encouraged to take a hands-on approach to feeding their neighbors by volunteering.

• Advocating: Join with City Harvest and Feeding America to urge Congress to pass a comprehensive COVID-19 recovery bill that helps the growing number of New Yorkers and people across the country who are experiencing food insecurity because of the economic crisis resulting from COVID-19.

Everyday New Yorkers can also join City Harvest and its partners by participating in the “Shop For City Harvest” page where retailers are supporting City Harvest’s work and helping fight hunger.

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.