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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Barbara Hughes, Executive Director of City Beet Kitchens at Project Renewal
3:04:32
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Barbara Hughes, Executive Director of City Beet Kitchens at Project Renewal, testified about their social enterprise catering company and its role in providing meals to homeless shelters while also offering culinary training and employment opportunities. She expressed concerns about Intro 979 and its potential impact on nonprofit caterers.
- City Beet Kitchens provides nearly 53,200 daily meals to various nonprofit sites and Project Renewal shelters.
- Hughes highlighted the rising costs of food and supplies, which have not been matched by increases in shelter meal budgets.
- She emphasized that improving food quality is the best way to reduce waste and suggested prioritizing social enterprise caterers over for-profit food contracts.
Barbara Hughes
3:04:32
May first.
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My name is Barbara Hughes, and I'm the executive director of City B Kitchens at Project Renewal.
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We're a New York City homeless services nonprofit agency.
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Thank you, chair Brewer and the city council for convening this hearing.
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For over 55 years, project renewal has provided shelter, housing, healthcare, and employment services to New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.
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We are grateful to the city council for supporting our programs.
3:05:02
Our social enterprise catering company, City Beat Kitchens, is unique because it employs many graduates of our project renewal culinary arts training program.
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This workforce development program provides New Yorkers facing barriers to employment, including veterans with a world class culinary education and a pathway to a fulfilling career.
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City B Kitchens prepares high quality food for providers across the city.
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At this time, nearly 25 100 daily meals for 18 non profit sites and 28 100 daily meals for project renewal 7 shelters.
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We also cater private and corporate events.
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Profits from the business are reinvested in our culinary training program to provide even more employment opportunities.
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Intra 979 would, place undue burden on non profit caterers like us.
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In recent years, food prices have risen by 20%, paper products 25, gas 54%, van repairs 43%, yet the food budget for shelter meals has remained the same.
3:06:11
Requiring non profit providers who are obligated to provide a meal for all of our shelter residents to document food consumption and waste will add another costly layer of administrative burden.
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We are deeply concerned about our non funded mandate at a time when the city has been chronically late to pay non profit providers for our work.
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The best way to reduce food waste in shelters is to simply improve the quality of food.
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Think about it, if you had an unappetizing meal placed in front of you, would you force yourself to eat it?
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Or would you try to go to a nearby soup kitchen or pantry for something better?
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When poor quality food is wasted, the city is
Gale A. Brewer
3:06:51
Oh, we gotta wrap up.
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Wrap up.
Barbara Hughes
3:06:54
Can I finish my at at City Beat Kitchens, we take pride in crafting quality dishes and diverse menus for shelter residents?
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The city council should consider prioritizing social enterprise caterers like us over for profit food contracts.
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The return on investment with caterers like us is strong.
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We provide high quality meals for New Yorkers in need, which reduces food waste while supporting workforce development to create up opportunities for those who face barriers to employment.