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Dear
Friend,
Recently, I joined a table filled with the sweetest 4 and 5 year olds having a summer meal at our Community Kitchen. At the close of our time together one little girl said, “Thank you for the NICEpitality.” No it’s not an actual word, but it’s my new favorite word. It signaled to me that the effort extended by our volunteers, staff and leadership hit the mark. Together our community ensured that a meal enjoyed at a soup kitchen by a little New Yorker could be just that: a meal, not a marker of her future potential or promise. In that moment I was filled with gratitude for every supporter making our “NICEpitality” a reality.
This fiscal year marks the midpoint of Food Bank’s strategic plan to reduce the meal gap in our city. As with any other midpoint we’re presented with the chance to measure, reassess and potentially reconfigure in hopes of ensuring we have the perspective and assets to finish even stronger than we started. The weight of poverty in our city requires that we not simply continue what we planned but lead where we’re needed.
Sincerely,
Margarette Purvis
President & CEO
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Margarette Purvis speaks at the GEL Conference
Leading in the World
Over the past few months, Food Bank has seen its programming and impact honored with special opportunities and acknowledgements. Citi Foundation named Food Bank a Community Progress Maker, one of 40 organizations across the country, and the only anti-hunger organization, driving economic opportunities in their communities. We were also invited to share our non-traditional approach at the latest GEL Conference, a gathering of leaders focused on creating the “good experience.” We closed the fiscal year “Down Under” at Agile Australia sharing our story of using efficiency to create greater impact. Looking into the eyes of hundreds of leaders from an international audience inspired even greater commitment to strengthening our local connections. To experience our adventure, follow our hashtag story on #FoodBank2Australia.
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Top row (L-R): Kevin Frisz, Nicolas Poitevin.
Bottom row (L-R): Lary Stromfeld, Reverend Michael Walrond, Jr.
Leading as New Yorkers
Every pound of food, moment of relief, and connection made by Food Bank is fueled by New Yorkers. From volunteers to financial donors to mission leaders, New Yorkers are found at the core of every move we make. As we plan to work even more strategically within our mission, we’re thrilled to officially announce four committed New Yorkers who have recently joined our board of directors. Kevin Frisz, Nicolas Poitevin, Lary Stromfeld and Reverend Michael Walrond, Jr. have been great supporters and friends of our mission over the years. Each brings a new opportunity for Food Bank to increase impact, leaning on new and diversified expertise. Get to know them better here.
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Top row (L-R): April McKenzie-Griswold, Mary Beth McGee.
Bottom row (L-R): Steeven Nelson, Erin Hill.
Leading as Food Bankers
Addressing our city’s growing disparities requires that more New Yorkers find their place within the solution. From our external relations department headed by Francisco Tezen, to our programs division headed by Brady Koch, we’ve made several strategic hires intended to increase opportunities for engagement of concerned New Yorkers. Our external relations team (which includes April McKenzie-Griswold, Mary Beth McGee, Steeven Nelson, and Erin Hill) looks forward to helping companies and individuals, small and large groups and those seeking leadership roles find a place within our mission.
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Food Bank member agency representatives at New York City Hall
Leading as Citizens
A key component of our strategic plan is to fill our mission’s leadership gap with awareness building. In the past few months we’ve been covered in the Huffington Post, discussing the importance of "Raising Your Voice" in the fight to end hunger, and most recently in The Atlantic, highlighting the importance of connected leadership. These stories are direct reflections of the engagement we’ve seen from regular New Yorkers. Thanks to their advocacy, our member network has seen a recent increase of $4.9 million to sustain food pantries and soup kitchens through the city’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) and a change in state policy that can put hundreds of millions of meals on the table for up to 750,000 more eligible, low-income New Yorkers to receive critical food assistance with SNAP (food stamps).
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