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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Shana McCormick, Executive Director of RAP4Bronx
2:13:33
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Shana McCormick, Executive Director of RAP4Bronx, testified in support of Intro 905-2024, which would require food service contractors with city contracts over $100,000 to provide standardized feedback surveys to consumers quarterly. She emphasized the importance of quality, culturally relevant meals for food-insecure New Yorkers and highlighted RAP4Bronx's partnership with Rethink Food in providing nutritious meals to the community.
- McCormick stressed the need for locally prepared, culturally relevant meals to provide a dignified alternative to lower quality food options.
- She highlighted how RAP4Bronx's partnership with Rethink Food has delivered nearly a million meals from neighborhood restaurants, supporting local businesses and providing fair wages.
- McCormick argued that Intro 905 would ensure community voices are heard and lead to improvements in food quality and health outcomes, reducing duplicate efforts and food waste.
Shana McCormick
2:13:33
Good morning or good afternoon, majority leader, Amanda Farias, and and contracts committee chair, Julie Wan.
2:13:39
Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of intro zero nine zero five twenty twenty four.
2:13:44
My name is Shayna McCormack, and I represent Wrap for Bronx, a community driven organization dedicated to enhancing food access and nutritional outcomes in New York City.
2:13:53
Our work spans partnerships with faith based groups, senior centers, shelters, NYCHA developments, and other community based organizations.
2:14:01
We've proudly assisted in establishing pantries, subsidizing food access, and meeting residents where they are by providing prepared meals in partnership with Rethink, both rescued and farm fresh produce and essential pantry state staples.
2:14:13
As we all know, food insecurity is not one is not a one size fits all situation nor should it be treated as such.
2:14:21
I would like to extend a special thank you to the majority leader for steadfast support and allocating funds to help with food access in her district, is the very community that we serve the most, including subsidizing meals and shelters.
2:14:34
Our on on the ground experience has shown that when food quality issues arise at sites, residents often turn to local pantries and community based organizations for better more nutritious options.
2:14:45
This situation not only duplicates efforts but also escalates costs and compromises health outcomes.
2:14:51
Many working New Yorkers already face the challenge of stretching their budgets to cover rent, transportation, childcare, and other expenses.
2:14:58
This often forces them to compromise on food quality resorting to fast food or lower quality options.
2:15:03
In contrast, locally prepared culturally relevant ready to eat meals provide a dignified alternative.
2:15:10
Such meals are critical for individuals without access to full kitchens, those juggling multiple jobs with limited time and energy to prepare nutritious meals.
2:15:18
Over the past five years as a partner of Rethink, we've seen their efforts flourish into an ecosystem that we're proud to be a part of prioritizing community well-being, but also bolstering local businesses.
2:15:30
Through this partnership, we've helped deliver close to a million meals from neighborhood restaurants ensuring that local businesses thrive, local hires like our long standing driver Duane receive fair wages and benefits and consumers have access to quality nutritious meals.
2:15:46
The intro nine zero five mandates that food service contractors with a hundred thousand dollars or more are required to fill out surveys based on a quarterly basis.
2:15:58
This requirement will ensure that the voices of our community members are heard and that these insights will hopefully lead to improvements in food quality and health outcomes, a critical step in reducing duplicate efforts, ensuring dollars are spent on food that is being consumed and not being disposed of.
2:16:13
Thank you for your consideration and time to speak.
2:16:15
We believe this is the beginning and hopefully the city continues to invest in the model like this to benefit for all.
Julie Won
2:16:21
Okay thank you.