Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and while many New Yorkers will be gathering together with family and friends over a huge dinner, over a million New Yorkers will be facing food insecurity, wondering where their next meal will come from.
Hunger in New York City
As the cost of living and inflation rates continue to rise, more and more New Yorkers find themselves struggling to afford food. And it’s not just the unhoused population that is feeling it, low and middle-income families are also experiencing hunger at higher rates.
According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap 2024 report, in 2022 around 15% of New Yorkers experience hunger. The report also found that the Bronx specifically was in the top 10% of counties in the country facing food insecurity, with 290,990 Bronxites (a little over 20% of the population) experiencing hunger.
That same year, Brooklyn saw a rate of around 15% of the population facing hunger, 11.5% in Staten Island, 12.5% in Queens, and 14.9% in Manhattan.
Soup Kitchens and Food Pantries
All year long, soup kitchens and food pantries feed New Yorkers in need and Thanksgiving is no exception. The city has an interactive map highlighting kitchens and pantries, including kosher, halal, mobile, and HIV customer-specific locations, available at finder.nyc.gov/foodhelp.
New Yorkers can also call 311 and ask for the nearest food resources.
Several locations will serve Thanksgiving Day meals on Nov. 28, including The Bowery Mission (227 Bowery), which will serve breakfast from 8 to 9 a.m. and Thanksgiving meal service from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hunger beyond the holiday season
It’s an unfortunate fact that food insecurity exists beyond the holidays. Hunger resources such as New York City’s food banks are free year-round, but there are ways to get additional help if you are facing food insecurity.
SNAP Benefits and Other Resources
SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, are available for those who need assistance purchasing food for themselves and their families. To apply for SNAP, New Yorkers can reach out to the city’s Human Resources Administration at 718-557-1399 or apply online at a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra. You can also apply in person at one of the city’s HRA Centers; you can find the location nearest to you on nyc.gov.
For a mobile option, Plentiful is an app that allows users to search for resources on their phones. Through the app, users can look up food assistance programs, manage reservations, and save a spot in line for pickups. You can download the app on iOS or Android or visit plentifulapp.com.
More hunger resources are available at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA’s) National Hunger Hotline, call 1-866-3-HUNGRY for English, and 1-877-8-HAMBRE for Spanish. The line is open from 7 a.m.–10 p.m. EST.
Conclusion
Food insecurity is a reality for many New Yorkers, and it’s crucial that we recognize the effort of soup kitchens and food pantries that work year-round to provide meals and assistance. If you are facing food insecurity, remember that there are resources available to help. Take advantage of SNAP benefits, use apps like Plentiful, and reach out to food banks and hotlines.
FAQs
Q: What is food insecurity?
A: Food insecurity is the lack of reliable access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet an individual’s daily needs.
Q: What are some resources available for food assistance?
A: There are several resources available, including soup kitchens, food pantries, and food banks. You can also apply for SNAP benefits and use apps like Plentiful to find food assistance programs.
Q: Where can I find a Thanksgiving meal?
A: Many soup kitchens and food pantries will be serving Thanksgiving meals on Nov. 28. You can search for locations on finder.nyc.gov/foodhelp or call 311 to ask for the nearest food resources.
Q: Is food insecurity limited to just the holidays?
A: No, food insecurity is a year-round issue for many New Yorkers. Soup kitchens and food pantries provide meals and assistance year-round, and there are also resources available for long-term assistance, such as SNAP benefits.
