Low-Income Public Housing Food Rescue Operations

Gotham Food Pantry seeks funding to reach more of New York City's Housing Authority complexes. Each pantry offers food rescued from local businesses, such as grocery stores, commercial kitchens, bakeries, produce markets, catering halls, and restaurants. Tenant leaders work with staff to solicit donations, schedule deliveries, and coordinate distribution and community engagement.

Gotham Food Pantry establishes food rescue operations in high-need areas of New York City, with a focus on low-income public housing complexes. If New York City's public housing population formed a city, it would rank as the 34th largest in the United States, with over 500,000 residents, and would also be the most food-insecure city in the country.

We partner with over 30 tenant associations to rescue excess food from local retailers and distribute it to tenants who need it. Our pantry distributions, held Monday through Friday at various locations, serve tenants and their neighbors throughout New York City.

The SARE grant will enable us to expand this tenant association-based model, which has achieved tremendous success since our founding. Additionally, we are creating a curriculum that emphasizes food waste education, food rescue strategies, and best sustainability practices, targeting high school students and their parents to increase community awareness and activism. There is significant curiosity and interest around food rescue work, and through partnerships with tenant associations and mutual aid groups, we are already collaborating with many teachers involved in or residing in public housing complexes. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity from SARE and are excited for the impactful work it will empower us to achieve.