We are living through an unprecedented situation. During normal times, the children and families HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services supports deal with unimaginable obstacles. With the current pandemic, their situation has been compounded 10x over.
Over the past month, HSVS has not only shifted our entire way of doing things, we have also created new services and programs to meet the new needs of our clients. One of the most pressing is access to food.
Before the current pandemic began, 1.2 million New Yorkers were food insecure.
37% of NYC food bank locations have suspended operations because of the coronavirus
There has been a 2,637% increase in unemployment claims from March of 2019.
A multi-layered approach
The community we serve is struggling. With stay-at-home orders, surging unemployment, and a myriad of other obstacles, accessing food is harder than ever. We will bring it to them.
We’re currently focusing on families across Brooklyn and Queens as well as shelters, group homes and youth residences in Queens the Bronx, and Staten Island. But the need goes beyond those we’re currently reaching.
Peter Callahan Catering (pictured above) has been providing 500 weekly meals for shelters, group homes and youth residences.
Pies ‘n’ Thighs have created 100 family meals (feeding 5) every Tuesday. Volunteers are making contactless deliveries across Brooklyn and Queens.
Our Marlboro Community center partnered with Jetblue, Delta and others to provide meals to the community.
Creating a Sustainable Program
We are incredibly grateful for all who have joined us to date. In order to continue to provide and expand food-related services to members of our community, we are looking for food partners, corporate donors and volunteers.
If interested in helping build Food for Families into a long-term program, please reach out to Elyse Pitock (elyse@heartshare.org).