Root Cause Intervention

Advances policies to end hunger in the United States, including opposing harmful provisions in the Farm Bill and budget cuts to WIC, and advocating for the protection and expansion of federal nutrition programs.

Conducts and publishes original research and reports on federal nutrition programs, child hunger, poverty, and challenges facing low-income Americans to inform policy advocacy.

Refers individuals to nearby food pantries, soup kitchens, and free meal sites through a "Find Food" tool and by distributing downloadable neighborhood guides listing food resources across all five NYC boroughs.

Supports access to free meals for families and individuals through public schools and community sites during emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and assists with related benefit access such as P-EBT.

Hosts a national AmeriCorps VISTA program that deploys volunteers to support anti-hunger initiatives and capacity building in communities across the United States.

Operates a multilingual National Hunger Hotline (available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET) that connects individuals across all 50 states and U.S. territories with emergency food providers, local SNAP offices, WIC programs, and other government nutrition assistance programs.

Offers direct, step-by-step application support for SNAP and WIC benefits to low-income individuals and families, with specialized services for New York City and Idaho residents, including help with P-EBT card activation and Medicaid access.

Offers paid job training programs to 200 unemployed, underemployed, or low-wage workers in Illinois and Maryland to improve work skills and increase wages.

Offers training in leadership, advocacy, and community organizing to empower community members to address hunger and poverty.

Connects volunteers to skilled-based roles and other opportunities, including data verification for the USDA Hunger Hotline, food bank service, and grant application reviews, and facilitates volunteer engagement through events like the MLK Serve-A-Thon.

Deploys food rescue and delivery operations in response to emergencies such as hurricanes, government shutdowns, and economic crises. Activities include pop-up distributions, repacking events, and transporting food to affected communities, including delivering over 7 million pounds after Superstorm Sandy and distributing food to federal workers during shutdowns.

Conducts data analysis through the FeedNYC initiative to track changes in food insecurity, including documenting an 84% increase in monthly visits to food programs compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Operates a public-facing food map that displays locations offering free food across New York City, including food pantries, community fridges, and Mobile Markets. Also manages a self-enrollment system for volunteers to support food rescue, distribution, nutrition education, and advocacy efforts.

Operates Mobile Markets that distribute fresh produce to over 310,000 New Yorkers annually and host cooking demonstrations and supermarket tours to teach healthy eating, budget shopping, and food preparation. These events also connect participants with local community resources.

Provides grants, trainings, leadership resources, and equipment to over 400 partner agencies to strengthen their ability to serve people experiencing food insecurity. Also offers internships and fieldwork opportunities for public health and dietetic students.

Rescues and delivers culturally appropriate food, including over 106 million pounds of kosher food since 1999 and planned distributions of 9.2 million pounds of kosher and 4.3 million pounds of halal food annually, to meet the dietary needs of specific religious communities in New York City.

Rescues surplus nutritious food from donors including supermarkets, wholesalers, and restaurants, and delivers it free of charge to over 400 partner agencies such as food pantries, soup kitchens, and community food programs across all five boroughs. The organization distributed over 3.1 million pounds of fresh produce annually through Mobile Markets and delivered over one billion pounds of food since inception.

Offers educational workshops on topics including domestic violence, immigration, bullying, mental health, family relationships, and community integration for adults, children, and youth. These workshops are conducted in person and virtually, and are part of ongoing community outreach efforts.