Right now, the Food Bank for New York City has enough resources. 

But that is today. A week from now that may not be the case. 

"Right now we have enough supply, but that’s right in this moment,” Lisa Hines-Johnson, Chief Operating Officer of Food Bank For New York City told NY1. "We are certainly seeing an extreme rise in need of food and resources.”

The Food Bank’s network includes more than 1,000 food banks and soup kitchens across the city. Hines-Johnson says they are seeing some of the soup kitchens they work with shutter. It’s not surprising, since under new state social distancing rules no organization or business is supposed to gather more than 50 people at one time. 

 

 

 

Hines-Johnson said the Food Bank is still trying to determine the impact of the new rules on kitchen closures across the city. As for her own organization, they are already making changes. 

Its Bronx warehouse remains open but it’s Harlem Community Kitchen and Food Pantry has temporarily suspended in-house activities at its senior program. To-go meals have replaced sit-down meal service.

The need will grow, advocates say. Even before this crisis, according to the Policy Committee on New York City Hunger Resources, about 1.4 million New York City residents relied on emergency food. Hines-Johnson is calling for volunteers and donations. To learn more, you can go to their website.