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New York Hunger and Senior Groups Receive Historic $2
Million Grant
USDA Funds Nonprofits to
Collaborate on NYC Hunger Reduction Plan
WASHINGTON, February 23, 2011 - Agriculture Secretary Tom
Vilsack today announced a series of new initiatives aimed at
helping communities increase food access by promoting
coordination and partnerships between public, private and
non-profit partners. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will
be investing $4.98 million in grants to 14 communities in
eight states, including New York City, to reduce hunger and
improve the nutrition of low-income Americans.
A
collaboration of New York City's leading non-profit and
governmental public anti-hunger, nutrition, and aging
organizations were granted $2 million. The partnership
includes the AARP Foundation, City Harvest, the Council of
Senior Centers and Services of New York City, Food Bank For
NYC, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, the New
York City Coalition Against Hunger, the City Department for
the Aging, and Public Health Solutions through the United
Way of New York City.
The grant
will be used to implement a set of strategies spanning the
next two years based on a comprehensive plan adopted in 2006
by 75 citywide, faith-based, and neighborhood groups. The
goal is to significantly reduce hunger and improve nutrition
throughout the city, including the formation of a New York
City Food Policy Council to connect the non-profit, public,
and private sectors. This project will work towards the
creation of a hunger-free community in all five boroughs,
with a particular focus on aiding the especially vulnerable
population of households with children, working poor, and
senior citizens.
The
thirteen grantees outside New York are located in New
Jersey, California, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington
and Maryland. The grants fund the development and
implementation of plans to help communities expand access to
healthy food through increased participation in federal
nutrition programs and other creative initiatives that meet
a community's unique needs.
In 2009,
over 50 million individuals in the United States, 16.6% of
the total population, lived in food insecure households.
Children and seniors are especially vulnerable throughout
New York City, approximately one out of every five residents
(1.5 million people) lives below the federal poverty level
(approximately $18,300 annually for a family of three).
"Too
many New Yorkers simply can't build a better life when they
are struggling to feed themselves and their families, which
is why United Way puts such an emphasis on reducing hunger
in our City," said Gordon Campbell, President & CEO of
United Way of New York City. "This grant will help New York
continue to be at the forefront of creating and implementing
programs and services that work to reduce the number of food
insecure households. ?We are pleased to be working with so
many respected and committed partners to continue this
work."
"Families
in crisis and the elderly are increasingly dealing with
hunger as fact of life. This partnership represents part of
the solution for many who need our help," said William E.
Rapfogel, the CEO of Met Council. "We are grateful to this
great team and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for
helping our innovative approach."
" City
Harvest is grateful to be a part of this exciting
opportunity to address hunger in New York City by building
public and private partnerships," said Jilly Stephens, the
Executive Director of City Harvest. "We look forward to the
role we can play in helping meet the considerable food needs
of our communities."
AARP and
AARP Foundation have made a long-term commitment to reducing
hunger in America and this collaboration will allow us to
augment our work in New York City," said Lois Wagh
Aronstein, AARP New York state director. "AARP believes
that no one of any age should go hungry and we thank
Secretary Vilsack for making this significant investment in
the health of our nation's most vulnerable citizens."
" The
importance of this historic USDA grant cannot be
underestimated,? said Lucy Cabrera, Ph.D., the President &
CEO of the Food Bank for New York City. ?Hardship has
intensified for families who are struggling to put food on
the table and approximately one-third of New York City
residents are sacrificing the quality and quantity of food
they are buying in order to make ends meet. This grant will
help us meet those needs."
" As
New York faces the challenges of assisting its older
citizens to remain healthy while living in the community, we
are pleased that recognition is being given to the
importance of nutrition in addressing chronic illnesses of
aging," said Igal Jellinek, the Executive Director of
Council of Senior Centers and Services of NYC, Inc. "We are
proud to be a partner in the Hunger Free Communities
Consortium's multigenerational initiative and look forward
to providing outreach and access to a diverse population of
low income, vulnerable older New Yorkers to help end hunger
in New York City."
" This
collaborative approach is paramount to successfully tackling
the alleviation of hunger in many of New York City's
neighborhoods," said Ellen Rautenberg, the President and CEO
of Public Health Solutions. "There is a great need for
action and we are looking forward to working with our
partners to increase community awareness of WIC, SNAP and
other existing nutrition assistance programs that can help
create a hunger-free and healthy NYC ."
" This
historic public-private partnership will allow non-profit
groups build our capacities to help more struggling families
receive government nutrition assistance benefits and school
breakfasts,?"said Joel Berg, Executive Director of the New
York City Coalition Against Hunger. "It will both fight
hunger and bolster our economy."
USDA's
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) oversees the administration
of 15 nutrition assistance programs, including the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the
child nutrition programs, that touch the lives of one in
four Americans over the course of a year. These programs
work in concert to form a national safety net against
hunger. Visit
www.fns.usda.gov for information about FNS and
nutrition assistance programs.
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About United Way of New
York City
United Way of New York City (UWNYC)
brings together people, resources and ideas to achieve
long-lasting systemic changes that improve the education,
income stability and health of low-income New Yorkers, and
foster a more robust and effective nonprofit sector.
We believe that everyone has a role in building a better
future for all. We offer diverse opportunities for New
Yorkers to give, advocate and volunteer to advance the
common good. To learn more about our work and how to get
involved, visit
www.unitedwaynyc.org.
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