MAYOR DE BLASIO AND SPEAKER JOHNSON ANNOUNCE $25 MILLION IN EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR FOOD PROVIDERS

MONEY WILL GO TO PROVIDERS AS THEY DEAL WITH CHALLENGES CAUSED BY COVID-19

  Mayor Bill de Blasio and Speaker Corey Johnson today announced that the City will provide $25 million in emergency funding to emergency food providers across New York City. This funding is being allocated as part of a new, ongoing partnership between the de Blasio Administration and the City Council to help emergency food providers deal with the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic. 

  

“No one should have to question where their next meal is coming from. As we face this crisis head on, we remain committed to feeding all New Yorkers in need,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "Providing emergency funding is crucial to keeping our food providers up and running. I thank Speaker Johnson for his advocacy and partnership in securing food resources for all New Yorkers." 

“We thank the de Blasio administration for moving quickly on the Council's calls for help for food providers two weeks ago. This funding, combined with the $25 million the state pledged in response to the Council's request, will pay for over 19 million meals. We must continue to do everything we can to prevent a hunger crisis in New York City. No one should be food insecure in the richest city in the United States," said Speaker Corey Johnson.

"During this crisis, New York City's food pantries have been vital partners, and I'm glad that even in a difficult time, we are able to support them. Any New Yorker can find a map of local pantries and other options at NYC.gov/GetFood, and I look forward to continuing to work with these pantries to get food to people in need," said Food Czar and Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia.

The City's Food Czar team, overseen by Commissioner Kathryn Garcia, has been doing direct outreach to pantries to understand their needs, and this funding will cover critical immediate operating expenses such as increased food costs, additional staffing, new safety supplies, and the ability to deliver food items directly to seniors who are now homebound. More than 800 organizations citywide, including pantries, mobile pantries, soup kitchens and non-profit organizations, may be eligible to receive emergency funding for these critical operating expenses. The Food Czar team, in partnership with New York City Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services, will begin outreach to let food pantries know how to access these newly available emergency funds.