For the People Who Are Food Insecure
Words by Sarah Logan
Illustration by Katie Herchenroeder
February is National Canned Food Month. This year, and every other for that measure, it is vital to disperse information for those in society who find themselves without proper access to food. The availability to food is a necessary resource for all people around the globe. Unfortunately, this human right is not always acknowledged, and many individuals are left worrying that they will not have enough food to get through the week, let alone the evening. Thankfully, many organizations, including CCNY, are trying to combat this inequality by establishing food pantries.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture states that food insecurity is “a lack of frequent and consistent food and nutrients to maintain a healthy, balanced and fulfilled lifestyle.” This state of being is common in the U.S., and many Americans are unsure of where their next meal will come from. Hunger and Health, a partnering website of Feeding America, states that in 2017, 1 in 8 Americans were deemed food insecure. Many of these individuals were children, the elderly, and the disabled.
Thankfully, the CCNY food pantry is striving to fix this issue and help students at CCNY, as well as the people of the Harlem community. The food pantry is open Mondays through Wednesdays from 10am to 5pm in NAC 6/145 with an option to schedule an appointment to maintain anonymity.
Other additional food pantry resources in the area are the Church of Annunciation, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Convent Avenue Baptist Church, and the Church of the Crucifixion. The Church of Annunciation is open on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11:30am on 88 Convent Avenue. It is run by Kevin Morillo and for more information about this church’s pantry, the number to call is (917)572-6633. St. Mary’s is located on 521 West 126th Street and is run by Marilyn Manson from 4:30 to 6pm. For more information, call the number (917)723-4900. Convent Avenue Baptist Church runs from 9am to 12pm on Mondays and 9am to 12pm on Thursdays and it is run by Arthurean Evans on 425 West 144th Street. To call, dial (646)698-5102. Finally, the Church of the Crucifixion is run by Christina Neptune on Fridays from 1 to 2pm at 459 West 149th Street. The number to call for further questions is (718)227-8480. For those of you who are considering donating, these institutions, including CCNY's food pantry, value all non perishable donations, not just cans. When giving, be sure to consider if you would want to eat the product were the situation reversed.
For more information on where exactly the food pantries are located in New York City and its surrounding areas, visit www.foodbanknyc.org/get-help/ to access a website locating nearby resources.
