About the BackPack Program and Food Bank for NYC
Food Bank For New York City recognizes 28 years as the city’s major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs. As the city’s hub for integrated food poverty assistance, the Food Bank tackles the hunger issue on three fronts — food distribution, income support and nutrition education — all strategically guided by its research.
Through its network of approximately 1,000 community-based member programs citywide, the Food Bank helps provide 400,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers in need. The Food Bank’s hands-on nutrition education program in the public schools reaches thousands of children, teens and adults. Income support services including food stamps, free tax assistance for the working poor and the Earned Income Tax Credit put millions of dollars back in the pockets of low-income New Yorkers, helping them to achieve greater dignity and independence.
About the Open Market BackPack Program:
The Open Market BackPack Program provides children from low-income families with bags that they fill with fresh produce and healthy food items to make balanced, nutritious meals at home. The program is designed to meet children’s needs at times when school meals are not available — weekends and school vacations.
Part of Feeding America’s national BackPack Program, the Food Bank’s Open Market program encourages nutrition-education and lets children choose food for themselves and their families. In a set up designed like a real marketplace, children who access our BackPack Programs are taught how to shop — selecting for themselves which food items to take home to their families.
This activity helps children understand what goes into a healthy meal, while nurturing feelings of competency and self-sufficiency. The Food Bank also provides nutrition information sheets that accompany the backpacks.
