When we first expanded our Food Pantry back in 2020, no one expected it to grow the way it has. We couldn’t have anticipated the extreme need this program sees – this January, we’ve seen an average of 700 families and individuals visiting the Food Pantry each week. Our guests who visit the pantry come from different backgrounds, but they all need our support.
This month, we spoke to a guest named Jorge who started coming to our food pantry in September, a few weeks after his wife passed away. Jorge is 93 years old and a retired opera singer. He still loves to sing, and he told us that since the passing of his wife, he has been able to manage thanks to the food our pantry provides.
Like so many of us, Jorge looks forward to the day that the daily meal service at our Soup Kitchen can return inside safely. He hopes to be able to sing for our community, and I know, when that day comes, he will bring joy to so many.
Another one of our guests, Tina, specifically asked us to thank our supporters for their generosity: “I want to thank them so much for their donations. It really helps our people.” Tina moved to the South Bronx back in 1959. She raised three children while working in a laundromat to make ends meet. Her children have now grown up and moved out, her husband passed away, and Tina has moved to a smaller apartment in Chinatown. Now, she relies on social security and has a limited fixed income, so the food pantry is a huge help to her.
For the many individuals who visit our Food Pantry, the food we provide each week helps to feed their community. Whether they live alone and share their extra groceries with their neighbors or are cooking for their large family, our guests are all thankful for the food we’re able to provide with the help of our generous supporters. Learn more about our Food Pantry here.
