City Harvest Announces Hunger Action Month Partnerships to Raise Awareness of Hunger in New York City

Even in the world's greatest food-producing nation, more than 46 million people - including 13 million children - in the United States don't know where their next meal is coming from. To raise awareness of hunger in New York City, where more than 1.2 million residents struggle to put food on the table, City Harvest, the city's largest food rescue organization and a member of Feeding America, today announced its participation in Hunger Action Month. With potential cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the Farm Bill threatening the wellbeing of millions of people nationwide, it is more important than ever to take action.

"In a city that has so much, none of our neighbors should go hungry," said Jilly Stephens, CEO of City Harvest. "For 35 years, City Harvest has stepped up to rescue nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste and deliver it free of charge to New Yorkers in need. Thanks to the dedication of our partners, volunteers, donors and New Yorkers all across the city, we just rescued our 700 millionth pound of food and got it into the hands of the people who need it most."

Forty percent of households in New York City do not earn enough income to cover expenses such as rent, childcare, transportation, medical costs, and food. Millions of people in the city and across the country rely on SNAP, the cornerstone of the national nutrition safety net, to make ends meet. The Farm Bill, which includes SNAP, is set to expire this month, and there are two competing versions of the new bill in Congress. The House of Representatives' bill makes harmful cuts to SNAP that make it harder for low-income families and children to access healthy food, while the Senate's version protects SNAP. City Harvest will follow the legislation as it moves into conference this month and continue to advocate for a strong bill that protects this vital resource for families in New York City and across the country.

"City Harvest puts vegetables and nutrition in my house," said Deborah Daley, a participant in City Harvest's Mobile Market program. "Between rent, light, gas, and clothes, there's not much left for food and fresh vegetables. City Harvest helps my family a lot."

Throughout September, City Harvest and its partners will give New Yorkers the opportunity to make a difference by supporting the organization's work to rescue 61 million pounds of nutritious food this year and deliver it free of charge to hundreds of community food programs across the city's five boroughs.

Every day New Yorkers can get involved by participating in:

• Dish Out the Love: Dine with Union Square Hospitality Group for City Harvest (throughout September): During the month of September, restaurants across the Union Square Hospitality Group family will donate $2, which will help City Harvest feed 8 people for a day, from each order of top-selling menu items including Gramercy Tavern's Tavern Burger; Maialino's Tonnarelli a Cacio e Pepe; Untitled's Veggie Burger; Manhatta's Croque Madame; and many others.
  
• City Harvest Lunch Menus (throughout September, and year-round): Michelin 3-starred restaurant Le Bernardin and Michelin 2-starred restaurant Aquavit will be offering special City Harvest prix fixe lunch menus. $5 from every three-course meal ordered at Le Bernardin-which will help feed 20 New Yorkers for a day-and $3 from every two-course meal ordered at Aquavit-which will help feed 12-will be donated to City Harvest.
  
• High Holidays Food Drive: (September 4 - October 5): More than half a million Jewish New Yorkers struggle to put kosher food on their tables. Help City Harvest feed our kosher-observing neighbors in need during the High Holidays by running a drive and encouraging members of your community to donate non-perishable, kosher food. City Harvest trucks will pick up donations of 50 pounds or more and deliver them to kosher community food programs across the city. Visit www.cityharvest.org/programs/food-drives/ for more information.
  
• Martha Stewart Wine & Food Experience New York, presented by USA TODAY (September 8): This unique tasting event celebrates New York chefs, emerging talent, and nationally renowned purveyors. Attendees can purchase tickets using the code CITYHARVEST to receive a discount and have 40 percent of their ticket price donated to City Harvest. Guests will enjoy New York's finest food, wine and craft beer and experience cooking demonstrations featuring Martha and many other top chefs. Tickets and more at https://wineandfood.usatoday.com/newyork/.
  
• Pret A Manger's City Harvest Salad (September 18 - November 26): Pret A Manger's signature fall salad will be named the City Harvest Salad in NYC, and $1 from each salad sold will be donated to City Harvest, helping to feed 4 New Yorkers in need.
  
• Volunteer with City Harvest: City Harvest was founded by a group of volunteers in 1982, and to this day, volunteers are central to all aspects of our work. 10,000 volunteers donate time annually. Throughout the month of September, individuals are encouraged to take a hands-on approach to fighting hunger by volunteering: www.cityharvest.org/volunteer/volunteer/
  
• Donate: In honor of Hunger Action Month and City Harvest's 35 years of service, a generous donor is matching all donations made by individuals, dollar-for-dollar up to $35,000, from September 1-30. Visit https://giving.cityharvest.org/donate-now to donate.
  
• Advocate: Join with City Harvest and Feeding America for a National Call-In Day on September 13 to urge Congress to pass a Farm Bill that protects SNAP and food access for everyone in our country.

"For those of us who find our passion in nourishing and nurturing guests in our restaurants, there's a strong impulse to feed people in our community who don't have enough," said Danny Meyer, Founder and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group. "I am grateful to City Harvest and our guests for coming together to maximize support for our fellow New Yorkers during Hunger Action Month."

For complete information on all of City Harvest's Hunger Action Month activities, visit cityharvest.org/hungeractionmonth. The public is encouraged to join the discussion online by tagging City Harvest on Facebook (CityHarvestNYC), Twitter (@CityHarvest) and Instagram (@CityHarvestNYC) and using #HungerActionMonth.

About City Harvest
City Harvest is New York City's largest food rescue organization, helping to feed the more than 1.2 million New Yorkers who are struggling to put meals on their tables. We will rescue 61 million pounds of food this year and deliver it, free of charge, to hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens and other community partners across the five boroughs. Our programs help food-insecure New Yorkers access nutritious food that fits their needs and desires; increase our partners' capacity; and strengthen the local food system, building a path to a food-secure future for all New Yorkers. To learn more about our work, visit CityHarvest.org.

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SOURCE City Harvest