City Harvest Increases Support for Partner Community Food Programs with JPMorganChase’s Donation of Kitchen and Dining Essentials
Editor’s note: As new regulations for SNAP go into effect amidst already-rising food insecurity that has already been putting a strain on local food pantries, federal funding for SNAP and Medicaid processing is also decreasing, from 50% to 25%. This means that states will have to pay that higher cost in order to keep those that need it in their communities in these programs. They are more likely to tighten their own requirements, causing more people to lose their benefits and come to food pantries more frequently in need of help. Regarding our question about whether any of these items will be distributed to Staten Island locations: “We don’t have additional Staten Island–specific partners to share right now, but I’m happy to follow up if that changes or if future distributions include organizations on Staten Island.” See below for a video of the donations being delivered:
City Harvest announced that it will increase its support of New York City’s community food programs by providing more than 150 pieces of commercial kitchen equipment and dining furniture to some of their partner food pantries and soup kitchens. These donations will allow City Harvest’s partner community organizations to enhance their capacity to address food insecurity and better serve New Yorkers in need.
City Harvest Increases Support for Partner Community Food Programs with JPMorganChase’s Donation of Kitchen and Dining Essentials
More than $250,000 worth of essential equipment to help City Harvest and 37+ Community Organizations reach more New Yorkers in need
New York — February 18, 2026 — City Harvest, New York City’s first and largest food rescue organization, announced that it will increase its support of New York City’s community food programs by providing more than 150 pieces of commercial kitchen equipment and dining furniture to some of their partner food pantries and soup kitchens. These donations will allow City Harvest’s partner food pantries, soup kitchens, and community organizations to enhance their capacity to address food insecurity and better serve New Yorkers in need across the five boroughs. City Harvest estimates the equipment will allow the community partners receiving the equipment to collectively distribute an additional 1.5 million pounds of food. The donated materials, valued at more than $250,000, were provided by JPMorganChase as part of its renovation at 383 Madison Avenue.
Visits to local soup kitchens and food pantries are at an alarmingly high level, with more than 47 million visits to New York City emergency food providers last year. In addition to providing food to community food programs across New York City, City Harvest has a team dedicated to increasing the capacity of community food programs through equipment and technology investments, trainings, and more.
This donation will bolster that work by providing a wide range of essential kitchen appliances—such as commercial ovens, refrigerators, freezers, food warmers, and microwaves—along with pantry materials and dining furniture. City Harvest will distribute these resources to more than 37 local nonprofit agencies dedicated to helping New Yorkers who experience food insecurity. The equipment has started to be delivered to local partners such as the Chinese American Planning Committee (CPC) in Brooklyn, Part of the Solution (POTS) in the Bronx, Red Hook Redemption Church in Brooklyn, and NYC Love Kitchen in Manhattan. Together, these donations will enable City Harvest’s partner food pantries and soup kitchens to operate more efficiently, distribute a greater variety of foods, and expand their services, all to serve more New Yorkers.
“This generous donation from JPMorganChase will help City Harvest build the capacity of our partner soup kitchens and food pantries so that they can provide more food to more New Yorkers,” said Jilly Stephens, CEO of City Harvest. “Many of our partners are seeing a record number of New Yorkers seeking food assistance, at the same time as budget cuts and rising costs are making it harder for them to meet the need. This donated equipment will allow soup kitchens and food pantries throughout the five boroughs to do even more for our neighbors in need.”
“We’re grateful for City Harvest’s partnership in supporting organizations that are helping to meet the needs of New York communities,” said Adam Slater, Global Head of Amenity Services at JPMorganChase. “Through this donation, we seek to continue our efforts to help strengthen the vital work of local nonprofits and the broader New York community.”
City Harvest has been at the forefront of food rescue and hunger relief in New York City for over 40 years, rescuing and delivering millions of pounds of food each year to help feed New Yorkers who are struggling to put meals on the table.
About City Harvest:
City Harvest is New York City’s first and largest food rescue organization. We rescue nutritious, high-quality food that would otherwise go to waste and deliver it for free to hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens, community partners, and our own Mobile Markets® across the five boroughs. In response to the urgent and ongoing demand for food assistance and a commitment to sustainability, this year we will rescue more than 86 million pounds of food and deliver it to New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity. With deep connections to the communities where we work and with a focus on localized investment, City Harvest is dedicated to strengthening our network of agency partners and the local food system through capacity building, advocacy, and nutrition education. Through our food rescue model, we support environmental health—this year, we will prevent the equivalent of more than 25.4 million kilograms of CO2 from entering the atmosphere—while providing New Yorkers with the food they need to thrive. City Harvest is recognized as a leading equity-driven organization and has been named one of America’s Top 100 Charities by Forbes. Since our founding in 1982, we have rescued more than one billion pounds of food and provided it for free to our neighbors in need. To learn more, visit cityharvest.org.
Banner Image: City Harvest furniture delivery. Image Credit – City Harvest
City Harvest
City Harvest is New York City’s first and largest food rescue organization. We rescue nutritious, high-quality food that would otherwise go to waste and deliver it for free to hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens, community partners, and our own Mobile Markets® across the five boroughs. In response to the urgent and ongoing demand for food assistance and a commitment to sustainability, this year we will rescue more than 86 million pounds of food and deliver it to New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity. With deep connections to the communities where we work and with a focus on localized investment, City Harvest is dedicated to strengthening our network of agency partners and the local food system through capacity building, advocacy, and nutrition education. Through our food rescue model, we support environmental health—this year, we will prevent the equivalent of more than 25.4 million kilograms of CO2 from entering the atmosphere—while providing New Yorkers with the food they need to thrive. City Harvest is recognized as a leading equity-driven organization and has been named one of America's Top 100 Charities by Forbes. Since our founding in 1982, we have rescued more than one billion pounds of food and provided it for free to our neighbors in need. To learn more, visit cityharvest.org.