#BetterTogether: Season of Giving 2023
About three million men, women, and children in New York are straining to meet their basic needs according to a True Cost of Living report.
Food Prices have steadily risen since 2020. And while the annual inflation rate has been declining, the price of groceries is still high. This means, the cost of a holiday meal will be expensive again this season.
To help feed our families this holiday season, we are continuing our #BetterTogether Season of Giving campaign.
As a part of this initiative, we are continuing our partnership with local community organizations to raise money, awareness, and food.
Join us in our mission to fight food insecurity so everyone can have a delicious holiday meal.
OUR PARTNERS
NY Common Pantry
New York Common Pantry opened its doors in 1980 serving 30 families. Now the community-based food pantry serves more than 500,000 people annually.
They work to reduce hunger and food insecurity by offering programs to help those they serve with everything from fresh food to housing and educational resources.
To make a donation, CLICK HERE.
Community Food Bank of New Jersey
The Community Food Bank of New Jersey's mission is to fight hunger and poverty in New Jersey by assisting those in need and seeking long term solutions. CFBNJ engages, educated and empowers all sectors of society in the battle. Working together with volunteers, donors and their many partners, CFBNJ works to fill the emptiness caused by hunger with food, help and hope.
To learn more about the organization, including many locations where you can make a donation, volunteer and more, CLICK HERE.
Watch our special presentation
Join Cindy Hsu as we take a look back at some of the stories that really touched our hearts, and show that we're truly #BetterTogether.
CBS New York at New York Common Pantry
CBS New York and the New York Common Pantry teamed up to put food on people's tables this holiday season. Our volunteers in Harlem and the Bronx spent a morning packing meals for families in need.
NY Common Pantry packs meals for asylum seekers
The New York Common Pantry is providing "no-cook" bags of food this year for people who don't have their own kitchens to prepare meals.
CBS New York team volunteering at NY Common Pantry
We are partnering with the New York Common Pantry to provide meals for people who need them during the holidays.
Inside NY Common Pantry's Hunts Point distribution hub
NY Common Pantry Executive Director Judy Secon says the Bronx is the most food insecure borough in New York City.
Season of Giving at New York Common Pantry
Our teams in Harlem and the Bronx are working hard to give back with the New York Common Pantry and provide families with meals this holiday season.
New York Common Pantry helps seniors & veterans at Findlay Houses
CBS New York is teaming up with New York Common Pantry to bring awareness to food insecurity and help those in need as part of our #BetterTogether: Season of Giving campaign.
The pantry is reaching different populations in the Bronx. Some seniors and veterans at the Findlay Houses say the demand for food is high.
At least 20 veterans rely on monthly food packages, which are shelf-stable groceries.
"It helped me tremendously, a lot. In other words, the food that I didn't have before the whole month, that pantry fills that void," said Kelvin Johnson, who lives at the Findlay Houses.
"They get here at 3-4 in the morning and that lines goes all the way up the block," said Anthony Ortiz, who lives at the Findlay Houses.
For more information, click here.
Bridging the food gap for women and families in shelters
Our Season of Giving partner New York Common Pantry distributes food and supplies to local organizations.
One recipient is WIN, formerly known as Women in Need. The Brooklyn organization provides shelter and housing to people who need in most.
We spoke with President and CEO Christine Quinn about their mission to break the cycle of homelessness.
She also talked about their work to help 6,500 people each night, and why it's so important to focus on women-led households.
Understanding challenges some communities face
New York Common Pantry reaches smaller communities in the Bronx through a partnership with SapnaNYC, which helps women and domestic violence survivors learn English.
The nonprofit focuses on helping South Asian women get accustomed to systems and daily life in the United States.
The organization says many of them have difficulty providing food for their families.
"What we find is that so many women who are coming, they don't really understand the systems that exist in the U.S., they don't have access to the same information, because so many of them don't really have English proficiency," SapnaNYC Executive Director Diya Basasen said.
The group says partnering with the New York Common Pantry helps to bridge the gaps in the South Asian community in the Bronx.
Season of Giving still going strong
We continue our #BetterTogether Season of Giving campaign this holiday season.
Through our community partners, we aim to bring awareness to food insecurity and help local organizations doing their part to help those in need.
This month, we are gearing up to join the New York Common Pantry and its East Harlem location, where they say they will distribute 400 turkeys every day -- and the need continues to grow.
"Our mission at New York Common Pantry is to reduce hunger and promote dignity, health and self-sufficiency," New York Common Pantry Executive Director Stephen Grimaldi said. "Whether we call this pervasive problem food hardship or food insecurity, the bottom line is that people throughout the city are struggling."
You can help those struggling to put food on the table by donating money or food here.
CBS New York kicks off Season of Giving campaign in New Jersey
CBS New York kicked off this year's #BetterTogether: Season of Giving campaign in New Jersey on Saturday. We partnered with local food banks to help families in need have a happy Thanksgiving.
2023 CBS New York Turkey Drive
CBS New York teamed up with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey for our 2nd annual turkey drive to fight food insecurity on Saturday.
Huge turnout in Denville, NJ!
More than 135 turkeys have been collected at the turkey drive in Denville, New Jersey!
Women Fighting Hunger
Wendy Lazarus started Women Fighting Hunger to extend the Community Food Bank of New Jersey's reach.
Fighting food insecurity year round
Simple to donate!
Every dollar donated to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey can provide three meals to a person in need.
It's simple to donate, too!
2023 turkey drive underway!
CBS New York anchors and reporters are collecting donations at three locations in New Jersey until 11 a.m. Saturday.
John Elliott is with the team at Smartworld Coffee on Diamond Spring Road in Denville.
Chris Wragge is with the team at Acme off Route 440 in Jersey City.
Vanessa Murdock is with the team at ShopRite on Livingston Ave. in Livingston.
Ready to ride for Turkey Bike
This Saturday, we're teaming up with Community Food Bank of New Jersey for their annual turkey drive, and today we meet two people taking part in Turkey Bike.
We speak with Chip Quayle and Erin Steward about the route and the crowd, as well as their motivation and training that goes into it.
Volunteers hard at work in Hillside
CBS New York's Vanessa Murdock visited the Community Food Bank of New Jersey's headquarters in Hillside, where they're gearing up for this weekend's turkey drive.
Murdock spoke with volunteers as they helped prepare the fresh meals that will be distributed to families across the state this holiday season.
CLICK HERE for more from her morning.
Fighting food insecurity on college campuses
With the holidays fast approaching, many families are struggling to make ends meet. As CBS New York's Nick Caloway reports, that's especially the case for college students.
About 8% of people in New Jersey are food insecure, meaning they lack reliable access to nutritious food. That number is far greater on college campuses -- closer to 30%.
So instead of focusing on schoolwork, some students are worried about their next meal.
That's where Community Food Bank of New Jersey comes in, distributing food to 14 college pantries across the state.
New York Common Pantry illustrates need illuminated in Poverty Tracker report
This year's Poverty Tracker released by Columbia University and the Robin Hood nonprofit shows a 10% overall increase in hunger.
This Season of Giving, CBS New York has partnered with the New York Common Pantry to combat food insecurity in our community. Executive Director Stephen Grimaldi welcomed researchers to the East Harlem headquarters to announce the report findings.
"Our mission at New York Common Pantry is to reduce hunger and promote dignity, health and self-sufficiency," Grimaldi said. "And whether we call this pervasive problem food hardship or food insecurity, the bottom line is that people throughout the city are struggling."
The pantry plans to distribute more than 8,000 turkeys over the next week. Holiday cheer will welcome 50% more people for their Thanksgiving feast than last year.
Meet our partner, Central Food Bank of New Jersey
CBS New York is partnering with Community Food Bank of New Jersey under our #BetterTogether campaign to help feed people in need this holiday season.
The nonprofit has been fighting food insecurity for nearly five decades and serves more than 800 pantries, soup kitchens and family centers across the state.
Just last year, the group distributed food for more than 90 million meals.
The need is just as great this year. So this Saturday, our teams will help collect food donations at three locations in New Jersey -- Acme Markets in Jersey City, SmartWorld Coffee in Denville and the ShopRite in Livingston.
Come out to donate and meet some of your favorite anchors, reporters and the many people who work behind the scenes. We'll be there from 9 a.m. until noon.
We also spoke with Community Food Bank of New Jersey CEO Elizabeth McCarthy to learn more about the organization and the need, as well as how people can find assistance or volunteer. Watch her full interview above.
Bronx nonprofit helps South Asian immigrants learn English to navigate necessary U.S. systems
Our #BetterTogether: Season of Giving is teaming up with our partners from New York Common Pantry to bring awareness to food insecurity.
CBS New York's Shosh Bedrosian reports on their collaboration with small organizations who help feed the most vulnerable in the Bronx.
Queer-centric food pantry provides free groceries across NYC
CBS New York's Elle McLogan introduces us to a pantry in Jackson Heights, Queens, providing food and safety.
New York Common Pantry partners with Tacombi to serve a taste of home
Culturally relevant meals have become a big focus in East Harlem, where asylum seekers are lining up for food. The New York Common Pantry has new partnerships to help fill the gap.
Meet our partner, New York Common Pantry
Monday kicks off our #BetterTogether Season of Giving campaign.
Here at CBS New York, we want to ease the burden of families struggling to meet their basic needs. That's why we're partnering with local community organizations to help raise awareness, money and food donations.
This month, we're teaming up with the New York Common Pantry in their effort to fight food insecurity.
New York Common Pantry opened its doors in 1980, serving 30 families. Now, the community based food pantry serves more than 500,000 people annually.
They work to reduce hunger and food insecurity by offering programs to help those they serve with everything from fresh food to housing and educational resources.
According to the New York City Department of Social Services, 1.7 million food insecure New Yorkers receive SNAP benefits each month. A recent True Cost of Living report shows nearly 1.3 million households in New York City are struggling to make ends meet.
New York Common Pantry Executive Director Stephen Grimaldi and Restaurant Associates CEO Ed Brown joined us in the studio to talk more about all of this. Watch their full interview above.