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TESTIMONY

Judy Siqhan, Deputy Executive Director at New York Common Pantry, on the Increase in Demand for Services and Funding Needs

5:23:25

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125 sec

Judy Siqhan highlights New York Common Pantry's efforts in feeding New York's food insecure population and calls for increased and transparent funding.

New York Common Pantry has provided around 10,200,000 meals in the past year, up from 6,000,000 meals before the pandemic.
The organization has seen a 400% increase in asylum seekers seeking food, hygiene services, healthcare insurance, and referrals.
Siqhan credits additional NYC Funding for allowing the pantry to expand services, but stresses the need for more recognition and financial support for food pantries.
Concerns are raised about the Community Food Connection (CFC) funding being uncertain in future years and the lack of transparency and timeliness in funding allocations.

Judy Siqhan

5:23:25

Hi.

5:23:25

I'm Judy Sequan, deputy executive director at New York Common Pantry.

5:23:29

I would like to express my gratitude to deputy speaker Ayala for host in today's budget hearing for allowing us to opportunity to present this testimony.

5:23:37

Near common pantry is dedicated to addressing hunger and promoting dignity, health, and self sufficient for food insecure families and individuals, and we've been doing so for over 40 years.

5:23:48

In the past year, our programs have provided almost 10,200,000 meals up from 6,000,000 meals prior to the pandemic, and this year we are on track to serve over 11,000,000 meals.

5:23:58

We provided over £10,000,000 of food and assisted in accessing over $7,000,000 in benefit dollars and serve nearly 700,000 visitors.

5:24:08

We understand how devastating food insecurity is to the mental and physical health of those experiencing it and how much it impacts quality of life in the communities it impacts.

5:24:17

The pandemic inflation and snap cuts have left overwhelming numbers of families struggling to keep to make ends meet.

5:24:24

In addition, this year's silent secret crisis has greatly affected us the city and our agency.

5:24:31

We've seen over a 400% increase in the past year in asylum seekers who come for food and also for hygiene services, healthcare insurance, and referrals to other services.

5:24:41

We did receive some welcome NYC Funding this year, which was expanded in the 1st few months of our fiscal year.

5:24:49

We absolutely need this funding to be increased, and we want people to recognize that the food pantries are often unrecognized and unsung heroes of this crisis.

5:24:59

We continue to serve all who come to our doors.

5:25:01

We also want to talk a little bit about the CFC funding.

5:25:05

We are happy to see the amount up this year.

5:25:07

We are worried about subsequent years.

5:25:09

We also would like To encourage transparency in determining food funding allocations and to provide the information in a timely manner, we don't get our our funding amounts till well into the fiscal year.

5:25:23

We do get around July, but then we don't get the second allocation notice until December.

5:25:27

It makes it really hard to plan.

5:25:29

And for

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Rachel Bryant, Attorney at Met Council on the Community Food Connections Program and Emergency Food Accessibility