Special Report

Shutdown: The Coronavirus

Battling food insecurities during a pandemic

People line up for the Campaign Against Hunger Thanksgiving food distribution event in Brooklyn, New York, 11/19/2020. Photo by Courtney Guarino

COVID-19 cases are surging. Hunger is too.

New York City’s hunger crisis has been a widespread problem for years, but it’s gotten far worse due to the economic impact from the pandemic. About 2 million people experienced food hardship this year, almost doubling from 2019, with about 1 in 4 people turning to a food bank, pantry or distribution center since the pandemic began. 

Food warehouses and pantries throughout New York City have gone into overdrive to meet the needs of their communities. These organizations are stretched to their limits given the crush in demand and the lack of federal aid. In partnership with their supporters, volunteers, donors, and other community-based organizations, City Harvest and Campaign Against Hunger have been able to expand their efforts to serve families and provide enough food to their neighbors in response to the pandemic. 

These pictures explore the brave and charitable efforts of Campaign Against Hunger and CIty Harvest as they work tirelessly to ensure no one goes hungry.

Volunteers enter the Campaign Against Hunger warehouse in Canarsie, Brooklyn, 11/12. Photo by Courtney Guarino

A volunteer for Campaign Against Hunger prepares a bag of Thanksgiving grocery items at their warehouse in Canarise, Brooklyn, 11/12. Photo by Courtney Guarino

A volunteer at Campaign Against Hunger warehouse in Canarsie, Brooklyn awaits instructions, 11/12. Photo by Courtney Guarino

A customer loads up her grocery cart at the Campaign Against Hunger SuperPantry in Brooklyn, New York, 11/12. Photo by Courtney Guarino

Volunteers pack up groceries for delivery to various food pantries throughout New York City at Campaign Against Hunger’s warehouse in Canarsie, New York, 11/19. Photo by Courtney Guarino

Packaged meals to be delivered to various food pantries at Campaign Against Hunger’s warehouse in Canarsie, New York, 11/19. Photo by Courtney Guarino

A worker at the City Harvest warehouse in Long Island City, New York prepares repacked bags of produce to be distributed to various food agencies throughout the city, 11/19/2020. Photo by Courtney Guarino

Grocery items at Campaign Against Hunger’s SuperPantry in Brooklyn, New York, 11/19. Photo by Courtney Guarino

A volunteer for Campaign Against Hunger helps two customers with their order at their SuperPantry in Brooklyn, New York, 11/19/2020. Photo by Courtney Guarino

Volunteers help to hand out Thanksgiving grocery items to customers at the Campaign Against Hunger Thanksgiving distribution event in Brooklyn, New York, 11/19/2020. Photo by Courtney Guarino

Customers pick up Thanksgiving essentials at the Campaign Against Hunger distribution event in Brooklyn, New York, 11/19/2020. Photo by Courtney Guarino

 

 

Author


Tags


Other Stories in Special Report: Shutdown: The Coronavirus

Life returns to the East Village

Quincy Walter May 5, 2021

Reopening for Ramadan

Hassan Abbas May 4, 2021

And the band played on

Xavier Bartaburu May 2, 2021

Queens residents mourn at Covid vigil

Annie Burky May 2, 2021

Floating for Free: COVID and the Staten Island Ferry

Trish Rooney May 2, 2021

COVID-19 has left many Black and Hispanic landlords in serious debt

Norah Hogan April 24, 2021

Village East movie theater reopens to the public

Inga Parkel April 13, 2021

Chinese adoptions halted by COVID

Inga Parkel March 24, 2021

Remote is the new workplace normal

Courtney Guarino March 24, 2021

One year of COVID-19 in New York City

Michelle Diaz March 16, 2021

COVID long haulers deal with lingering symptoms and doubt

Kaity Assaf March 5, 2021

Pandemic Weddings

Chuyan Jiang March 2, 2021

Pandemic fatigue 101

Chuyan Jiang February 28, 2021

Yankee Stadium becomes COVID-19 vaccine site for Bronx residents only

Michelle Diaz February 24, 2021

The queer community rallies behind their sacred spaces closed because of COVID-19

Inga Parkel February 23, 2021

Street vendors struggle as New Yorkers and tourists stay home

Norah Hogan February 13, 2021

Keeping the faith in COVID-19

Courtney Guarino February 3, 2021

Little Italy’s restaurants need indoor dining to survive pandemic

Michelle Diaz February 2, 2021

Stray pets find homes and love during pandemic

Inga Parkel February 1, 2021

No Actors, But the Show Goes On

James Pothen December 5, 2020

New York City, a place of refuge 

Edith Rousselot December 4, 2020

Commuting in a pandemic world

Michelle Diaz December 3, 2020

Adaptation

Justin McGown December 3, 2020

Honk!: Cars earn a special spot in 2020

Luana Harumi December 3, 2020

Working out looks very different during a pandemic

Chuyan Jiang December 2, 2020

One kitchen’s transformation in the age of isolation

Isabel Beer December 2, 2020

Nursing homes are filled with sadness and loss during pandemic shut down

Inga Parkel December 1, 2020

The show goes on

Norah Hogan December 1, 2020

Loyal members help keep independent cinemas afloat

Courtney Guarino December 1, 2020

Musicians deal with the reality of no live shows as covid takes center stage

Paola Michelle Ortiz December 1, 2020

 Black Friday’s Aftermath

Sughnen Yongo November 30, 2020

The Spirit of Little Haiti

Savannah Daniels October 14, 2020

Small business owners hope for future relief

Courtney Guarino October 2, 2020

Brooklyn Book Festival held virtually

Chuyan Jiang September 28, 2020

NYC Restaurant owners worry about maintaining business during winter 

Isabel Beer September 27, 2020

The pandemic is causing mental health struggles for many Latinos

Paola Michelle Ortiz September 24, 2020

Politically divided family can agree on one thing, rallies are bad during a pandemic

Michelle Diaz September 23, 2020

New Yorkers are vulnerable to mental issues due to pandemic

Sughnen Yongo September 23, 2020

Healthcare professionals struggle with Trump’s decisions during pandemic

Tori Luecking September 23, 2020

Some Americans Say “Not So Fast” on Operation Warp Speed

James Pothen September 23, 2020

Trump voters unfazed by morality of Trump’s Covid response

Norah Hogan September 22, 2020

Trump rallies continue, despite the rising Covid-19 death toll

Isabel Beer September 22, 2020

Latinos weigh in on President Trump’s management of the pandemic

Paola Michelle Ortiz September 21, 2020

Fast track vaccine causes fear

Kaity Assaf September 21, 2020

It’s business as usual at McSorley’s Old Ale House

Tori Luecking September 20, 2020

Trump defiance to hold indoor rallies amidst COVID-19 sparks polarized responses 

Courtney Guarino September 20, 2020

NYC Cafes and restaurants try and survive the pandemic

Isabel Beer September 19, 2020

A typical afternoon at Shade Bar NYC

Kaity Assaf September 19, 2020

West Village staple, Caffe Reggio, remains open for outdoor dining in the wake of coronavirus restrictions 

Norah Hogan September 19, 2020

Fort Greene’s Dino adds outdoor dining to keep business flowing

Courtney Guarino September 19, 2020