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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