Mayor Mamdani, New York City Council, the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare and the Department of Social Services Announce City-Funded Pantries to Start Offering Free Pet Food at 22 City Pantries to Keep Pets with the Families Who Love Them

 

City Triples Baselined Funding for More than 700 Food Pantries and Invests $500,000 to Help New Yorkers Feed Their Pets 

 

Free Dog and Cat Food Available at 22 Pantries Across All Five Boroughs Starting Oct. 19

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, New York City Council, the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare (MOAW) and the NYC Department of Social Services (DSS) announced that, for the first time, the City will provide free pet food at 22 City-funded food pantries across all five boroughs, beginning Oct. 19. 

 

Earlier this year, Mayor Mamdani tripled baselined funding for DSS’s Community Food Connection (CFC) program, which supports more than 700 food pantries citywide. In partnership with the City Council, the Mamdani Administration has allocated $78 million for food distribution in Fiscal Year 2027, and an additional $500,000 to provide pet food at participating pantries. 

 

For many New Yorkers, pets are family. But as the cost of living rises, feeding a pet can become an untenable financial burden — forcing some families to make the heartbreaking choice to surrender an animal they love. By making free dog and cat food available where New Yorkers already pick up groceries, the City is helping families care for themselves and their pets under one roof. The administration has also partnered with the City Council to invest in spay and neuter services to strengthen the City’s safety net for animals. 

 

“The affordability crisis affects every member of a family, including the pets we love,” said Mayor Mamdani. “No New Yorker should have to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their pets. Keeping families together means keeping pets at home, too. That’s why we’re investing $500,000 to provide free pet food at 22 city-funded pantries across all five boroughs, while tripling funding for more than 700 food pantries citywide.” 

 

“For many of us, our pets are family. And when money gets tight, we know people will skip their own meals before letting their animals go hungry,” said DSS Commissioner Erin Dalton. “Thanks to new funding from the city, families can now pick up pet food at 22 food pantries in the same trip they make for their own groceries. I’m pleased we can now make it easier to care for every member of the household.” 

 

“Animal welfare and human well-being are deeply connected. When families struggle to afford basic necessities for their pets, they risk losing an important source of companionship, stability, and connection,” said MOAW Director Allie Taylor. “By bringing pet food assistance directly into communities, we’re helping prevent financial hardship from separating people from the animals who are part of their lives.” 

 

Where to find free pet food 

Starting Oct. 19, free pet food for dogs and cats will be available at the following food pantries: 

 

Bronx: 

•    Part of the Solution: 2759 Webster Ave., 10458 

•    New York Common Pantry: 1290 Hoe Ave., 10459 

•    Davidson Community Center: 2038 Davidson Ave., 10453 

•    The Kingsbridge Heights Community Center: 3067 Kingsbridge Terrace, 10463 

  

Queens: 

•    First United Methodist Church of Jamaica: 162-10 Highland Ave., 11432 

•    River Fund: 89-11 Lefferts Boulevard, 11418 

•    Yeshua Worldwide Ministries Food Pantry: 7911 Caldwell .Ave., 11379 

•    Hour Children Community Outreach: 36-49 11th Street, 11106 

  

Brooklyn: 

•    Community Help in Park Slope: 200 Fourth Ave., 11217 

•    Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty: 5361 Preston Court, 11234 

•    On the Go Relief: 2832 Fulton Street, 11207 

•    St. John’s Bread and Life Food Pantry: 795 Lexington Ave., 11221 

•    The Campaign Against Hunger: 2004 Fulton Street, 11233 

•    YMCA Community Market: 2980 West 29th Street, 11224 

  

Manhattan: 

•    Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen Pantry: 296 Ninth Ave., 10001 

•    New York Common Pantry: 8 East 109th Street, 10029 

•    St. Clemens Food Pantry: 423 West 46th Street, 10036 

•    The Father’s Heart Ministries: 543-545 East 11th Street, 10009 

•    The Lower Eastside Girls Club: 402 East 8th Street, 10009 

•    Trinity’s Services and Food for the Homeless: 602 East 9th Street, 10009 

  

Staten Island: 

•    Project Hospitality: 205 Canal Street, 10304 

•    Feeding with TLC: 309 St. Paul’s Ave., 10304