New York Common Pantry (NYCP) is a poverty fighting organization that reduces hunger and promotes dignity, health and self-sufficiency by using a holistic approach to reach over 60,000 distinct people--close to 500,000 guests each year. Last year, we served almost 8 million meals. Through an array of programs that we offer we look to establish long-term stability for those we serve.

NYCP works to establish food security, by confronting the lack of resources and poor nutritional habits of those we serve. Through service provision, resource access, education and training, NYCP provides hope and motivation to make positive behavioral change, confront the social determinants of health and influence health outcomes. Our whole-person approach starts with food provision through the distribution of nutritious, fresh food pantry packages in Choice Pantry and hearty balanced breakfast and dinner in the Hot Meals program. Our Senior Feeding Program, Nourish, provides shelf stable food to over 15,000 seniors, aged 60 and older, each month.

We then go further to address the reasons for food insecurity with case management services through the help of Help 365, which assists Pantry visitors in gaining access to resources, and Project Dignity, which connects homeless visitors to resources and provides hygiene services. The third vital element in our whole-person approach is nutrition education and increased access to healthy foods offered through our Live Healthy! Program. Live Healthy! teaches children and adults about the importance of a nutritionally sound diet and active living, as well as provides them with the skills necessary to make healthier choices for their families.