The aim of the project is to support the City Harvest "Mobile Markets®" programme, which distributes free, fresh food to New Yorkers across all five boroughs.
Food insecurity in New York is now at an all-time high, with 3 million New Yorkers unable to meet the basic costs of living. Visits to food banks and soup kitchens have increased by 88% since 2019, and recent cuts to critical federal food assistance programmes means that more neighbours will be turning to City Harvest to put nutritious food on their tables.
City Harvest is New York’s first and largest food rescue organisation. Every year, it operates over 200 "Mobile Markets®" – farmers’ market-inspired, free food distribution sites – serving almost 100,000 households across the city’s five boroughs. These pop-up markets, held twice a month, are mainly organised near public housing to reach historically underserved communities that are striving to overcome disinvestment. They provide fresh produce suited to the needs and cultural requests of the beneficiaries, along with nutritious education and cooking demonstrations designed to encourage healthy eating and help beneficiaries make the most of the food they receive.
This project aims to support the "Mobile Markets®" programme over a three-year period. It will help to cover essential expenses, including food packaging supplies, the transport and distribution of foodstuffs, and operating costs.
Thanks to this support, City Harvest hopes to maintain and strengthen its action across the city by increasing its ability to respond to emergencies, while ensuring continuity of operations so that New Yorkers have access to the fresh, nutritious foods they need to thrive.
