The U.S. is facing one of the largest hunger crises in its history with the indefinite halt to SNAP benefits,1. With demand on food pantries and hunger relief organizations already at record highs, this suspension further impacts 1.8 million New Yorkers—our neighbors and friends—now uncertain about how they will afford food in the coming weeks. As a food justice organization, we have always believed that access to healthy food is a human right and should not be politicized.
If you or someone you know needs help accessing food, visit Lemon Tree or Mutual Aid NYC to find nearby food resources and support.
Teens for Food Justice is using our voice and partnerships to push for solutions while supporting the communities we serve. We’re advising the NYS Task Force on Food, Farm, and Nutrition and working alongside food pantries, emergency food providers, and farm-to-school organizations to promote an immediate, coordinated effort and shape long-term policies. We’ve also signed on to letters urging bipartisan action in Washington and immediate steps from the state to fill the gaps.
At the same time, we’re expanding our own capacity and response efforts. We’re maximizing our growing capacity, onboarding new distribution partners in the Bronx and the Rockaways, and increasing resources and awareness around food access and how to get help. We’re also connecting families with the most effective local resources, ensuring that fresh, healthy food and critical information reach those who need it most.
We’re also working with our community-based partners to strengthen and adapt our growing and distribution systems, maximizing efficiencies both in our growing and across our three channels—school cafeterias, take-home bags to campus families, and community partnerships.
While we focus on expanding access through our farms and partnerships, there are steps each of us can take individually to strengthen our local food networks.