Food Relief for NYC Families Affected by COVID-19

At a national address earlier this year regarding USDA Actions on Nutrition Security, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack gave a really nice shout-out to Children’s Aid’s role as a precursor to the USDA National School Lunch Program. He then discussed USDA priorities on nutrition security, highlighting the importance of SNAP-Ed and Farm to School federally funded programs, both of which you have generously supported in the past. At 32:52 in the link below, you can check out his Children’s Aid mention:

https://youtu.be/6i6vxlgU44I?t=1972

As demand ticks back up for food assistance due to supply chain issues, the prices of food quickly rising, and pandemic assistance ending, the programs he highlights are of paramount importance today. We wanted to provide updates on how SNAP-Ed and Farm to School are making a difference:

• The food box program incorporates pantry ingredients into its fresh and seasonal produce bags. All of the key ingredients for a weekly recipe are included so that families can make the vegetable wontons in winter and the asparagus soup with bread in the spring.
• We expanded school-based food pantries at two schools and added a school-based food pantry at a third school in the Bronx. A parent shared, “During this time money was tight, we really appreciated the support of the pantry.”
• In Spring 2022 we renovated one center-based garden in the Bronx. Before it held four raised beds. Now, there are nine wooden raised beds and four corrugated beds, dramatically expanding the growing space. This garden will supply ingredients for scratch-cooked Early Childhood meals as well as youth cooking classes.

Thank you for supporting the basic food necessities for New York City’s children, and for being a part of an effort to enhance New York City’s food assistance infrastructure with innovative solutions. You’re carrying on a proud tradition and legacy that started many years ago.