NYC Extreme Budget Cuts Put Food Pantries On Chopping Block With 60% Funding Cuts To Community Food Connection, Supplier For 22 Pantries On Staten Island: Rally At City Hall Thursday

22 Pantries on SI Set To Lose Funding

Editor’s note: As Lt. Esther Mobley, of the Salvation Army Stapleton Corps, serving islanders for over 20 years, mentioned in our interview with her, some of the food pantries were already turning families away after they ran out of food.  Considering the fact that the need is only increasing, not decreasing, this outcome, where people are turned away without food, is likely to only become worse.  The budget is not definite yet, so there is still time for residents to convince the Mayor’s Office that cutting food pantries is something that should be shelved, as these vital resources are relied upon by many of our neighbors and friends, whether we know it or not.  

Community Food Connection, a program that supports 22 of our local food pantries here on Staten Island is having its budget slashed by 60% from $55M to $22M. With the ever growing need and constant budget cuts we are at risk of being unable to support the communities who so heavily rely on our services.

Because of this we are mobilizing this coming Thursday, May 23rd to protest this latest cut at City Hall. We plan to gather at Staten Island Ferry at 12:10 PM on Thursday to organize and catch the 12:30 boat and travel to City Hall together.

We have a limited quantity of tshirts to offer for those who attend which carries our message. Please send RSVP’s directly to [email protected] so we can have a head count for this event. We highly encourage all who are able to march with us. Our community needs a strong voice in opposition to these horrendous cuts in funding.

Banner Image: Soup kitchen. Image Credit – Jenn Kosar