Food Banks and Food Pantry Resources in NYC as SNAP Emergency Allotment Benefits End
Many New York families rely on the Emergency Allotment SNAP The benefits of the COVID-19 pandemic may make it difficult again with these benefits ending in a few days and all SNAP recipients in New York will receive their regular amount of SNAP benefits starting in March.
While these benefits are often temporary during the pandemic, they have certainly helped many families as inflation and food costs continue to rise.
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Fortunately, there are programs around New York that provide food to families and individuals in need year-round. Some food banks and food pantries around New York City offer grocery items, hot meals and other food and social services to families in need.
Here are some helpful resources:
NY Common Pantry
Located in East Harlem in the United States
8 East 109th St., New York, NY
Located in the Bronx in the United States
1290 Hoe Ave., Bronx, NY
The NY Common Pantry offers fresh nutritious free food from two locations in New York City to eligible participants. One of the programs they offer is Choice Pantry, which provides families with pantry packages including grocery items from five food categories: protein, dairy, grains, fruits and vegetables.
Another program they offer is Hot Meals, which provides hot balanced meals from a food pantry location in NYC’s East Harlem. In addition, their Mobile Pantry provides food and other resources to families by removing barriers such as transportation costs.
Food Bank for New York City
Various Locations Around NYC
The Food Bank of New York City’s Community Kitchen offers grab-and-go meals weekdays in Harlem. They also offer the Youth Supper Klub, a free meal service for children, teenagers and parents in need. Parents can come and get meals for everyone in their household.
Families can also visit their community pantry to receive groceries. In addition to food programs, the Food Bank for New York City can provide assistance with applying for SNAP, getting a cell phone, health care and more.
Crossroads Community Services
108 East 51st St., New York, NY
People from all backgrounds are welcome at Crossroads Community Services. To-go meal services are offered throughout the week. Breakfast is served hot and fresh Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday. Saturday morning brunch features hot meals as well as pastries, milk, fresh fruit and coffee.
Dinner, offered daily, consists of food donated and salvaged from local hotels and restaurants. Crossroads also offers a Food Pantry every Thursday from 10 am to 1 pm, where they distribute grocery bags filled with proteins, grains, vegetables, and fruits.
Soup kitchen of the Holy Apostles
296 9th Ave, New York, NY
The mission of Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen is to spread respect and hospitality to people in need. They serve free nutritious meals through various programs, including daily meal service (served every weekday from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm), pantry program, meal outreach and Sunday dinner.
The meal outreach program delivers bagged breakfasts and lunches to those in need throughout Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen. Every month Sunday dinners do not require an RSVP: just show up and dine. They set up tables and chairs in the church so that everyone could come and eat.
Urban Outreach Center NYC
1745 1 St Ave., New York, NY
Market Food Pantry NYC distributes fresh produce and pantry staples to New Yorkers. Visitors experiencing homelessness can also receive other essential items for self-care, such as socks and underwear, hygiene kits and sleeping bags.
Other programs include the Tuesday Night Community Dinner, where they provide restaurant quality food. The Urban Outreach Center also offers social services such as mail distribution, which allows visitors to begin the process of obtaining the necessary paperwork and applying for jobs, and a center for job readiness resources.
The Campaign Against Hunger
Various Locations Around NYC
In addition to their food distribution centers, The Campaign Against Hunger’s food programs include Health 360, a wellness program for the elderly; Healthy Bloomers, which provides children with hands-on healthy lifestyle opportunities; Healthy Families and Healthy Communities, a program that promotes intergenerational learning about food preparation; the Weekend Healthy Snack Program and more.
They also help serve their community beyond providing food (from their food pantry location in NYC) by offering social services such as SNAP screening, job training referrals, tax preparation and -file and enroll in public health insurance.
Updated 2/27/2023