Staten Island Hunger Task Force Releases February Minutes, New Meeting May 4th

Editor’s note: You can see the minutes from the last several meetings of the Hunger Task Force here.  There are multiple food pantries and soup kitchens serving islands residents, including Faith United Methodist, which also gives away clothing as they have it directly to the community. Available sizes will vary week to week, and it’s every Saturday.  As Medicaid recipients face new administrative hurdles, along with SNAP recipients who must meet new work requirements, the Social Care Network on Staten Island seeks to help those qualified for services to sign up to receive them.  Some of these individuals may qualify for additional help from local charities offering services that benefit families struggling with food insecurity and healthcare access issues.  Staten Islander News met with Lt. Esther of the Salvation Army Stapleton Corps to get an update on some of their ongoing programs, new pressing needs, and how they are helping the community move forward during times of hardship.  

Staten Island Hunger Task Force Meeting Minutes February 2nd, 2026

Attendance will be added at a later date

• Stapleton Houses Fire: A fire occurred on the first floor of the Stapleton Houses at 8:00 AM on the morning of the meeting. The apartment was destroyed, but no injuries were reported as no one was home. Because it is NYCHA property, the Red Cross could not assist, and the family is currently seeking a new unit.

• Meeting Administration: The minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed and approved.

• Data Collection Project: Graduate students (Alana and Lucy Lu) from Columbia Mailman School of Public Health and Work Learn Grow students are contacting Staten Island pantries to collect 2024 and 2025 data. They aim to complete this by May 2026.

• Microgrants Distribution: About 75% of the $1,500 microgrants have been distributed to pantries. The JCC is scheduled to receive theirs on Thursday.

• Legislative Breakfast Planning: Detailed planning occurred for the event on February 20, 2026, at Project Hospitality in Stapleton. Susan Zimmett (Director of Food Policy, OTDA) is the confirmed guest speaker.

• Event Flyer Issues: There was confusion regarding a flyer for the Legislative Breakfast. The group was advised against using a PNG circulated in the chat because it lacked the speaker’s name; an updated version is required.

• Social Care Network (SCN) Report: Chris provided a one-year update on the three-year SCN program, which offers free benefits to Medicaid recipients.

  • Stats: 180,000 Staten Islanders are Medicaid/Medicaid-adjacent. Over 40,000 screenings have been completed (25% goal met early). Staten Island is the top-performing SCN in NYS.

  • Service Data: As of the end of 2025, 37,000 people were screened. Currently, over 11,000 are being navigated to services, with ~25,000 services delivered.

  • Economic Impact: ~$70-80 million spent in Staten Island, with >$20 million to providers. Vendor “Epicure” opened a warehouse in Port Richmond, hiring 100 locals.

• Food Locker Innovation: Refrigerated food lockers have been installed (e.g., at Health for Youth, Central Family Life, A Chance of Life) to prevent package theft in NYCHA housing. These allow secure pickup via app.

• Delivery Program & Privacy: A “discreet delivery” program (using unmarked vehicles like DoorDash) is serving 100,000 people. This minimizes risk for undocumented recipients, though eligibility generally requires Medicaid Managed Care (undocumented individuals on Emergency Medicaid usually don’t qualify, though their children might).

• Partnership Opportunities: Partners are needed for SCN screening navigation. Compensation is $17.50 per 15 minutes with a client, and Community Health Worker training is available.

• New Pantry Announcements:

  • Betel Jamat House of Community: Sites open Thursdays at 11:00 AM at 332 Broadway and 412 Jersey Street.

  • Urban Fairies Food Pantry: Grand opening on February 28, 2026. Operating first Tuesdays (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM) at 4 Minthorn Street.

• Training and Health Initiatives:

  • Steven announced a Food Safety Training session at JCC Manor Road with limited slots.

  • An update on Dr. Ginny’s blood pressure/barbershop project is scheduled for March 4, 2026.

• Personnel Updates: Ysenia Mata is the new NYC Veterans’ Affairs Director; Alfred Martin is the new Health Commissioner.

Decisions Made

• The minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

• Antoinette (Chair) agreed to provide the opening remarks for the Legislative Breakfast.

• Flyer Version Control: The group decided not to use the flyer initially shared in the chat and will wait for the updated version containing the speaker’s name.

• Locker Utilization: The SCN will continue expanding refrigerated lockers and aims to incorporate other vendors (e.g., Brooklyn Kitchen).

• Next Meeting Date: The next general meeting will be held on Monday, March 2, 2026.

• Training Collaboration: Organizations should contact Stephen directly for immediate Food Safety Training slots; broader access discussions involving City Harvest will happen offline.

Decisions Made

• The minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

• Antoinette (Chair) agreed to provide the opening remarks for the Legislative Breakfast.

• Flyer Version Control: The group decided not to use the flyer initially shared in the chat and will wait for the updated version containing the speaker’s name.

• Locker Utilization: The SCN will continue expanding refrigerated lockers and aims to incorporate other vendors (e.g., Brooklyn Kitchen).

• Next Meeting Date: The next general meeting will be held on Monday, March 2, 2026.

• Training Collaboration: Organizations should contact Stephen directly for immediate Food Safety Training slots; broader access discussions involving City Harvest will happen offline.

Staten Island Hunger Task Force Meeting Minutes January 5, 2026

Attendees: Susan Fowler, Heather Butts, Antoinette Donegan, Alemayehu Ayele,

Alex Hughes, Stephanie Nieto, Stephanie Shavuo, Christopher Dowling, Natasha

Pernicka, George Barreto, Cathy carlson, Lynnel Bruno, Crystal Aneke, Delila Nadal, Pam, Danielle Parks, Rev. Faith Togba, Paloma Wasserstein, Steven Kaufman, Terry Troia, Dawn Bridgeford, Monique Thomas, Teddy Otobo-Sheriff, Salomon, Ginny Mantello,Tommy Bond, Giomelly Barton

Key Points

• 4:02–4:06 PM: Meeting opened; attendees arrived; brief       banter and tech setup.
• Agenda adjustment: Susan requested time for high school       student presentations; confirmed to be included under CHASI/pantry-related       updates.
• 4:06 PM: Chair introduction. Antoinette Donegan       (Central Family Life Center) announced as new chair; Alex Hughes (Project       Hospitality) introduced as vice chair; Steven Kaufman (Staten Island JCC)       as secretary.
• Moment of silence held in memory of Chris Dowling’s       wife; community support affirmed.
• Minutes status: October minutes seen; November/December       minutes delayed due to file corruption (“Wingdings” issue). Tommy will       recreate the minutes.
• Microgrants update: Dr. Butts reported 13 microgrants       to be distributed starting “tomorrow” and over the next couple of weeks;       recipients to confirm via email; planned site visits to deliver checks,       assess needs, and support data collection.
• 501(c)(3) update: Process going well; EIN and       incorporation in progress; formal filings forthcoming; more updates next       meeting.
• Legislative Breakfast planning: Set for Friday,       February 20 at 10:00 AM at 211 Canal Street (Project Hospitality Community       Kitchen); target ~80 attendees; state keynote requested (Susan Zimet if       available; otherwise state SNAP Director or OTDA assistant commissioner).       Invites planned for Food Bank, City Harvest, United Way.
• Data committee: Tommy will send forms to collect 2025       pantry data; Columbia fellows and Work Learn Grow students will assist;       aim to have data ready for the Legislative Breakfast.
• Student presentations (Difference Makers: St. John’s       University program with Port Richmond and Curtis High Schools, working       with CHASI):
  • CHASI offers fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy; CHASI        Mobile covers 31 stops; access by texting “FOOD” to 726-879 (as stated).
  • Challenges: St. John’s        Pantry—transportation/accessibility due to steep hill and unreliable S51        bus; St. Mary’s Pantry—outreach and visibility deficits.
  • Proposed solutions: Deploy CHASI Mobile to serve        hard-to-reach clients; leverage onsite social worker (Clara) for SNAP        appointments; strengthen outreach via local businesses, kiosks, and high        school engagement for volunteers.
  • Note: Project Hospitality may offer similar supportive        services; Alex/George to provide details.
• CHASI services: SNAP screenings, applications,       recertifications, and insurance enrollment/renewals via NY State       Marketplace at storefront and mobile pantry; storefront staffed by 2–3       navigators; home visits provided for clients with mobility/transport       issues.
• Mobile pantry workflow: Referrals and appointment       scheduling conducted by community health worker (Clara); screenings may       not occur on-site.
• Project Hospitality (PH): Hiring a health advocate for       real-time screenings on mobile routes; current partnership with United       Way’s Connect to Care.
• PH mobile cadence: SOMOS conducts monthly health       screenings typically on the second Tuesday of the month through March; PH       has 2–3 navigators; appointments accepted and some walk-ins depending on       location/time.
• Smaller pantries (e.g., St. John’s Episcopal, St.       Mary’s Episcopal) lack resources like social workers/community health       workers; proposal to convene small pantries to identify gaps and leverage       larger pantries’ mobile services.
• Social Care Network (SCN): Urgent emphasis on utilizing       SCN funding to connect eligible pantry clients to services (food delivery,       lockers, transportation, household needs, housing) through March 2027;       immediate urgency stressed to avoid underspending. CHASI integrated SCN       screenings at storefront and mobile pantry (via “Channels”);       transportation can be funded to access pantries/lockers.
• Abraham’s Tent (Rabbinical Alliance): Provides monthly       produce deliveries to St. John’s and St. Mary’s; can secure additional       items; makes 8–9 mobile stops monthly on Staten Island.
• City Harvest: Previously supported St. Mary’s monthly;       support stopped due to funding/model changes; CHASI added a monthly       distribution to cover the gap; City Harvest representative (Dawn) present       and available for questions.
• Ongoing Saturday SCN screenings at Trinity Lutheran       Church (~9 AM until done); suggestion to expand self-administered QR-code       screenings.
• Proposal for PH and CHASI to rotate visits to       interested pantries to explain the screener, train staff, and conduct       on-site screenings; multi-step engagement recommended; consensus to       organize weekend outreach “blitzes.”
• State advocacy: Speaker Natasha Pernica (Alliance for a       Hunger Free New York; Executive Director, Food Pantries for the Capital       District) discussed statewide collaboration, events, and data.
• Upcoming events:
  • The People’s State of the State press event next        Monday at 11:00 AM at the NYS Legislative Office Building (advocacy for        HPNAP, Nourish NY, expanding direct contracts).
  • New York State Food Summit in June; RFPs to be        announced.
• Data and mapping:
  • Alliance maintains New York State Food Connect map;        Staten Island data is outdated (e.g., last update shown as 2022) and        incomplete.
  • SIHTF has a Google map/list of all Staten Island        pantries; plan to share data to update NYS Food Connect; Columbia student        team assisting; Tommy as local data lead.
• LinkNYC kiosks advertising:
  • Susan proposed using kiosks to share QR codes linking        to social care network resources; broad participation encouraged.
  • Chris noted constraints (vendor-created graphics only,        limited metrics, cap of four locations/month) but plans to redo        campaigns; suggested organizations run their own ads.
  • Susan shared prior metrics of 57,000 impressions;        suggested tracking QR code hits via CHASI’s analytics.
• Community needs and SNAP: Discussion of including       satellite sites (schools) and food lockers in mapping; linking families       through schools to pantries; acknowledged increased impacts from SNAP       changes; executive board plans to address awareness/support.
• Logistics and next meeting: Next meeting noted as the       first Monday of February (transcript noted February 2; participants to       watch for official notes). Minutes to be sent for approval once technical       glitches are resolved. Meeting ended around 5:00 PM; executive board, Chris,       Tommy, and Dr. Butts remained for internal updates.

Decisions Made

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• Include high school student presentations in the       meeting agenda under pantry-related updates.
• Proceed with Legislative Breakfast planning for Friday,       February 20 at 10:00 AM at Project Hospitality Community Kitchen (211       Canal Street).
• Conduct microgrant distribution via onsite visits over       the next couple of weeks, combining check delivery with needs assessment       and data support.
• Proceed with planning a February session to revisit Social       Care Network engagement and rollout to more pantries.
• Establish/explore a rotation for PH and CHASI to visit       interested pantries to provide training and conduct screenings.
• Consider implementing QR code-based needs assessment       surveys at pantries with space constraints (e.g., St. Mary’s).
• Collaborate to upload SIHTF’s Google map data to the       NYS Food Connect map; Susan to provide link; Natasha to share with her       team.
• SIHTF executive committee to consider LinkNYC kiosk       advertising for pantries and the social care network.
• Internal commitment to address SNAP cut impacts and       community awareness in upcoming executive board actions.

Banner Image: Fund SNAP For All campaign. Image Credit – SIHTF