Confronting Hunger & Poverty
The River Fund New York fights hunger and poverty by distributing FREE groceries and produce in food-insufficient communities. Each $1.00 donated yields $20.00 worth of product to the families they serve. Through Emergency Food Assistance, Hunger Relief, Nutritional Education, Income Support and a wide range of outreach services, the organization supports children, seniors, expecting mothers and other needy groups from dozens of city communities-going way beyond their need for food support.
What is the issue, problem, or challenge?
Because of a steady decline in economic stability, one in three city residents are now forced to make choices between nourishment and other basic necessities of life. The tough choices they face often result in nutrition being sacrificed in favor of rent, transportation or utilities. By 2010, more than 44% of affected residents reduced their family’s food intake in order to get by. The most vulnerable residents-low-income households with children and seniors-are suffering the heaviest burden.
How will this project solve this problem?
Services include Emergency Food Assistance and Hunger Relief, Nutritional Education, Income Support and a wide range of outreach services directed at children, seniors, expecting mothers and other needy groups from dozens of city communities. Using intelligent data analysis tools, and an open ear to the needs of the community, we detect and proactively address unsolved problems in our neighborhoods-including everything from discount prescription medication to mental health counseling.
Potential Long Term Impact
Supporting over 137,900 people in 2011, our Mission is to feed and empower those we serve to move beyond the lines of poverty, and secure sustainable support for their families and their communities as a whole. With volunteers, painstaking organization and dedication, we have managed to keep needy seniors warm in the winter, outfit poor children with school supplies, connect undocumented aliens with legal assistance, and ensure that disadvantaged citizens access the public services they deserve.
