Instacart Donated 500 Bags of Free Groceries to Bronx Residents
On Monday, July 11, Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, State Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda, New York City Council Member Diana Ayala, New York State Assembly Member Amanda Septimo, U.S. Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) and Instacart, the leading online grocery platform in North America, joined forces outside the Willis Avenue 7th Day Adventist Church to hand out bags of fresh groceries and pantry staples to Bronx residents experiencing food insecurity. The giveaway and partnership is a component of Instacart’s Local Listening Series: Hunger, Nutrition & Health in America – Instacart’s latest effort to expand food access and combat nutrition insecurity in the communities it serves.
“We are grateful to Instacart for choosing the Bronx as a base for developing a comprehensive dialogue to uncover the root causes of hunger and how it impacts communities like the South Bronx that are still reeling from the devastating effect COVID-19 has had on our borough.” She added, “My hope is that this conference will be the start of a larger discussion on how we can work together through our public-private partnerships to combat global food insecurity and reaffirm that having access to food is a human right that should be guaranteed to every New Yorker regardless of their zip code.”
“With inflation at an all-time high and the lasting economic effects of the pandemic, this year has been difficult for many New Yorkers. I am encouraged to see the Bronx community come together to support hundreds of families experiencing food insecurity and hunger. Thank you to the White House, Borough President Gibson, Instacart and Word of Life for bringing this important discussion to the table and working tirelessly to increase access to affordable, nutritious food for more New Yorkers,” said Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15).
“I would like to thank the partnership created to make this event happen, including Instacart and the leadership of Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson,” said Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda. “Any effort made to help Bronx families get access to free quality food is a win for our community. I am honored to be a part of this important partnership.”
The goal of the Bronx listening session is to understand the underlying, systemic issues driving food access challenges and nutrition insecurity in the Bronx community. Instacart will compile and share insights from local electeds and the Bronx community with the Biden Administration ahead of the upcoming White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.
“Hunger and food insecurity affect every community differently,” said Instacart’s Public Policy Manager, Thomas McNeil. “We’re proud to partner with Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson and Word of Life International to convene this local listening session and donate bags of groceries to the Bronx community. We look forward to better understanding the unique challenges gripping this Borough and hearing the innovative solutions local leaders are developing to combat them. We look forward to bringing what we’ve learned today straight to the White House”
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven historically high rates of food insecurity, or the inability to reliably afford or access sufficient quantities of healthy foods, nationwide and thousands of low-income households in New York. Specifically in the Bronx, one in four Bronx residents faces food insecurity – this 1.7 times greater than the state average, according to a 2021 report by the United Hospital Fund and Boston Consulting Group.
“I’m excited about what this partnership and discussion will bring to the Bronx community, especially for those who experience food insecurity,” said Pastor John Udo-Okon from Word Life International. “I want to thank Instacart and the Bronx Borough President for providing the free groceries and hosting this important White House listening session.”
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