NYC children does not always know where their next meal will come from
1M+
Average monthly visits to food pantries, soup kitchens, and community food programs among NYC families in 2023
100%
Nearly 100% increase in visits to food pantries by children and their families compared to pre-pandemic
63%
of NYC households with children struggle to make ends meet—19 percentage points higher than households without children
66%
Year-over-year increase in the child poverty rate in NYC in 2022. Child poverty is now at its highest level since 2015
The need for food assistance in New York City remains significantly higher than it was before the pandemic, and families with children have been particularly hard hit. The cost of living in New York City continues to increase at an unsustainable rate. Food, childcare, and housing costs remain high, and many families are struggling to put meals on their tables. These challenges are often exacerbated during the summer months, when access to free school meals may become limited.
Mrs. Wu, Participant at City Harvest's Sunset Park Mobile Market:
“There are five people in my family: me, my husband and my three children, who are 6, 8, and 10 years old.[City Harvest] helps us a lot. We don’t have that much money to buy good food. [Because of this Mobile Market], the kids will eat more fruits and vegetables.”
