FAQs

Organizations like New York Cares and NYC Service can help you find volunteers to help with your regular food distribution service and even with one-off projects, like website design or grant writing. City Harvest, Food Bank For New York City and United Way of NYC also organize volunteer projects for programs within their networks. Please reach out to your contacts at each organization to request assistance with your volunteer project.

Equipment is available on a limited basis to address food safety concerns. Any site monitor from City  Harvest, Food Bank for New York City, United Way of New York City, or Community Food Connection can make a recommendation for  equipment. Be sure to describe your equipment needs the next time you have a site visit. Site monitors can describe the application process and timeframe for fulfillment.

The only dedicated Policy Committee funding source for repair costs is the EFAP administrative grant that allows EFAP members to apply for reimbursement for specific non-food expenses. Contact your EFAP coordinator to learn more about this grant

HPNAP eligible food programs may apply for the HPNAP Operations Support Grant through UWNYC, which covers many types of non-food expenses. The annual HPNAP application is typically released in mid-April. HRA-EFAP members may be eligible to apply for reimbursement for eligible non-food expenses through EFAP’s Administrative Expense Reimbursement Grant. This reimbursement is for expenses incurred by emergency food program(s) during the reimbursement period. More information on HPNAP eligibility and the EFAP administrative grant are described in the Resource section).

Please submit your request through the contact us form and we will assist you as quickly as possible.

To be eligible for funding through any Policy Committee members, you must meet the following minimum requirements:
• Operate a food program located within the five boroughs of New York City;
• Have federal 501 (c) (3) status;
• Have been in operation for at three to six consecutive months;
• Provide food free of charge;
• Meet NYC Department of Health requirements (for soup kitchens)

Note: Additional requirements may be required by individual funding sources

To find out how to apply for funding or support from a Policy Committee member, please visit the XXX page [hyperlink]

Please review the Emergency Food Program (EFP) directory to find a program convenient to where you live or work. Please call to verify operating hours.Our Provider and Guest Bill of Rights provide the operating framework for NYC’s 900 food pantries and soup kitchens. Pantries and kitchens are required to serve all first-time guests/visitors but after your first visit you may need to follow their guidelines for future visits, such as how often you receive food. Please know you will never need to provide your social security number, but pantries may ask to show proof of address and a form of identification. If you feel you were mistreated or pantry/kitchen did not follow the guidelines outlined in the not allowed to receive food, please contact 311 to share your complaint.

Thank you for your interest in starting a pantry/kitchen. Policy Committee members welcome applications from 501 c3 nonprofit organizations seeking food and funding for their pantry/kitchen. Please note, that pantries and/or kitchens must be self-funded for at least 3 to 6 months prior to applying for funding. Additional eligibility requirements and application procedures are described in the Resources section. We ask that you consider the Resource section of the website to identify any existing pantries and kitchens in your community. Instead of opening a new pantry/kitchen, perhaps you could partner with them to extend existing hours of operations and/or offer additional service days

Third-parties are invited to submit a Data Request Form to [email protected]. Once all materials are submitted, the Policy Committee on New York City Hunger Resources will review the request. If approved, the Policy Committee will send a Data Sharing Agreement. Once the signed agreement is received, the data will be compiled and released. Every effort will be made to provide the data within the timeframe requested, however it may vary depending on the complexity of the request.