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I am still finding it hard to believe that Summer is over and school has started once again. I always feel like the Summer flies by and then all of sudden, here we are...
A Visit to Food Bank For New York City
Feeding New York City: How the Food Bank Fights Hunger
I was asked to participate in the #FacesBehindHunger campaign, sponsored by ConAgra Foods. Although I have been compensated, all opinions are my own.
From Pantry to Plate: Food Bank Programs Changing Lives
My family and I had an interesting opportunity lately. We got to visit and tour Food Bank For New York City. This was the last day of our family vacation which was also a work trip for me so ending it with this experience was really an eye opener for my children.
I leveraged my experience by serving on the board of directors at the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Additionally, I've played a role in organizing several Share Our Strength events. This work has given me a strong understanding of the issue of child hunger and the importance of addressing it.
I was honored to be given a tour along with my family of Food Bank and the people who work there were wonderful. They were kind, compassionate and they knew what they were doing. They let us ask all of our questions and showed how us they do what they do every year.
FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY
Food Bank For New York City has been the city’s major hunger-relief organization working to end hunger throughout the five boroughs for more than 30 years. Nearly one in five New Yorkers relies on Food Bank for food and other resources. Food Bank’s nutrition education programs and services empower more than 275,000 children, teens and adults to sustain a healthy diet on a low budget.
Food Bank For New York City was founded in 1983 to address the growing needs of people seeking emergency food assistance in New York City. In July 2007, FoodChange, Inc. became a subsidiary of Food Bank.
FACTS WE LEARNED AT FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY
- Food Bank For New York City provides food for 1.4 million New Yorkers in need.
- They are the largest food bank in North America (in terms of their distribution) and their warehouse is the size of two football fields.
- They distributed 64 million free meals in 2015 which is equal to more than 76 million pounds of food.
- 18 million pounds of produce was distributed by Food Bank For New York City in 2015.
- Food Bank sends its trucks out to deliver to 1,000 charities and schools in the five boroughs. They run 17-21 trucks per day with each truck having 11 stops. They have very sophisticated inventory software that also helps them pack the trucks to maximize efficiency.
Read more about Food Bank For New York City in their 2014 annual report.
MEET DAN CINQUEMANI, VP OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION AT FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY
I had the chance to interview Dan Cinquemani, VP of Food Distribution for Food Bank For New York City. Mr. Cinquemani brings more than 30 years of experience in the food, warehousing and transportation business. He worked several years within the Walbaums/Great Atlantic Pacific and
Tea Company (A&P) where his responsibilities increased progressively over the years. In his last position with A & P he was the Vice President of Supply & Logistics, where he was responsible for a $280 million warehouse and transportation budget along with ensuring performance and compliance across contracts. Mr. Cinquemani also brings a wealth of knowledge in strategic planning and implementation and disaster recovery and business continuity planning. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus.
OUR INTERVIEW WITH DAN
Dan shared a lot about his previous experience of working with a supermarket which really gave him some great experience for his position at the Food Bank for New York City. He has been able to apply his work experience from that job to really assist Food Bank.
Dan shared a story of a family that came directly to Food Bank a few years ago. Food Bank is more like the wholesaler of food and the places they take the food to distribute it to those who need it. The family consisted of two mothers along with several kids including one in a wheelchair. They walked over two hours after finding Food Bank's address online. When they got there, the people who work at Food Bank rallied to find them food and really took care of them. It is this compassion that drives the majority of Food Bank employees. A Visit to the Food Bank for New York City
Our final question that we asked Dan Cinquemani, VP of Food Distribution at Food Bank For New York City was, “In your opinion, what’s one small thing that anyone can do to fight child hunger in their community?” He said that one small thing was for people to give their time. Volunteer where they can to help end child hunger.
HOW CAN YOU HELP END CHILD HUNGER?
Are you interested in learning more about how you can help end child hunger and support a Feeding America food bank in your area? Check out our article Things You Can Do Right Now to Help Fight Child Hunger in the US right now!
Also visit the ConAgra Foods Child Hunger Ends Here code entry website enter codes from specially marked packages to help fight food insecurity and child hunger in America. One code entry equals the equivalent of one meal’s cost for a Feeding America food bank. A Visit to the Food Bank for New York City
GET VOCAL ABOUT CHILDHOOD HUNGER
Tweet with @ConAgraFoods on Twitter
Tweet with @ChildHungerEnds on Twitter
Tweet with @FeedingAmerica on Twitter
Tweet with @FoodBank4NYC on Twitter
See @ConAgraFoods on Instagram
See @ChildHungerEnds on Instagram
See @FeedingAmerica on Instagram
See @FoodBank4NYC on Instagram
Like @ConAgra Foods on Facebook
Like @Child Hunger Ends Here on Facebook
Like @Food Bank for New York City on Facebook
That’s amazing to hear that 19 million pounds of produce was donated to the Food Bank last year! Hopefully that can put a little dent in all the hunger issues that’s going on right now. It’s so important to take a second to stop and help those around us <3
What an amazing opportunity to go there, and see everything first hand! It’s incredible, what a difference them make in the lives of so many people!
What an amazing opportunity! I am all about ending poverty in the world and it does start with one person. If we all helped just one person, there would be no poverty or hunger.
This is such a great article about a very important issue. I am so glad to see you feature the discussion on the blog.
The New York City Food Bank is doing wonderful things–there should be something like this in every major city. I think it should be required for everyone to see how there are organizations like this to help fight hunger.
What a great honour and opportunity for your family to have had a chance to visit the food bank and all the wonderful work they do to ensure families do not go hungry.
I’ve never volunteered at a food bank but I can only imagine what its like based on your photos. I donate food all of the time though!
This must have been an amazing experience for you and your family. It looks like they have quite the operation and it is wonderful they have donations to help.
What an amazing program. I am blown away by the amount of food there is and the amount of people this helps. Great job.
It’s so nice to know that there are organizations like these to help feed the hungry. I would love to volunteer!
WOW its nice to see that there are healthy options at the food banks. there is a stigma that its just old canned unhealthy food, for the most part that is true. My local food bank gets people to donate from their gardens and makes for a good option of veg and fruits. Its very important that children are getting the nutritan they need esspecially diasabled people.
Food bank of New York is really helping a lot of people. I hope they can continue and grow this initiative in years to come.
It’s nice when people do help. I’ve noticed though, that people who provide resources do expect (not the food bank you mentioned, just in general) do expect homeless people, or economically challenged people to be able to access the Internet. It’s not always easy for everyone to get online. Makes me scratch my head. I love that the people at the food bank you used as an example went all out for the people who had to walk so far.
It’s so amazing to hear about all the great people working together to feed the hungry. I volunteer from time to time at our local food bank and I wouldn’t trade it for the world! Thank you for sharing this wonderful post with us! 🙂
What an eye opening experience! Their food bank is enormous!! This post was a great reminder to get involved even if it’s just donating more!
How exciting! My teenager really wants to work in a food bank, but she’s not quite old enough.
We don’t have a food bank here so I would love to tour and see one personally. What an awesome opportunity.
I volunteerr at a food giveaway site bit am also familiar with the food bank here in town. I know several people who work there and their orgnization amazes me.
We have 2nd harvest here, I am sure they have it there too, collecting things from thee stores and resatuarants,
The faces of hunger are all around us. It would amaze people how many deppend on the ffood banks to help them monthly.
Im so glad places and organizations like this exists. I didn’t know that many people in NYC rely on a food bank either
Thank goodness for places like Food Bank For New York City. It must have been a very interesting tour to take and learn about the process.
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