"After working all day, coming home to an empty kitchen is hard. The juice is always the first thing to go.
"But we are so lucky. We can come here and get a good hot meal or a bag of groceries that will pull us through."
Read this and other stories of people we help.
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People with Disabilities
Approximately 1.3 million New Yorkers rely on emergency food programs. About one-third are disabled — an increase of 24 percent over the past three years. Learn more about people with disabilities in New York City below with key statistics and stories from the people we help.
- Almost one-third (31 percent) of disabled adults in NYC (21 percent in the US) live below the federal poverty level (approximately $16,000 per year for a family of three). (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2006)
- More than one out of five (22 percent) NYC residents turning to soup kitchens and food pantries receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and 6 percent receive Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). (NYC Hunger Safety Net 2007)
- On average, NYC residents accessing emergency food who are enrolled in SSI, which provides additional income to people with disabilties, receive $647 per month. (NYC Hunger Safety Net 2007)
Read stories below from New Yorkers with disabilities who have received assistance through our network of more than 1,000 food assistance programs throughout the five boroughs. Real names are not used.
Hector, Bronx soup kitchen guest
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"I'm retired for medical reasons, so I've been thankful for the people who've been around to help. When I developed back problems, the construction company I worked at found me an office job. But now I have carpal tunnel syndrome — and some days I can barely tie my shoes with the pain. "After I retired, I moved my father here from Puerto Rico to live with me. I do everything I can for him, but it's not easy. We receive food stamps, my father collects Medicaid and we each have Social Security. But after rent and all the bills, including my father's nurse's aid, sometimes we don't have enough at the end of the month. "My father and I started coming to the senior center two years ago — and the meals we get here are really essential. When you budget you have to think about the next day, then the next day, then the next. When we come here it makes the next day a lot easier. And after this great food I have more energy for my father. We all do what we can. We're both thankful that so many people at the center do so much." We met Hector at the CAB Morris Senior Center in the Bronx, which has been a Food Bank network member for three years.
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Dean, Staten Island choice-style food pantry guest
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"I'm 54. I got hurt on a park-service job seven years ago and I get disability now and some SSI [Supplemental Security Income]. My wife died eight years before that, God bless her. I started coming here a few years after I got hurt because money was tight.
"Food stamps aren't enough, and they're getting less. I used to get $150 a month. Now it's less than $50. I'll get a pension when I turn 62, but what am I supposed to do now? I get some mechanic work from time to time. In between jobs I need to rely on the pantry."
We met Dean at the Richmond Senior Services choice-style food pantry in Staten Island, which has been a Food Bank network member for six years.
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Mona, Staten Island choice-style food pantry guest
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"I lost my husband ten years ago. He was a mailman. I was younger then, you know, and could do more for myself, but after a while I just couldn't handle everything on my own. So I started coming here four years ago. I have to. Medicine is so expensive. I'm under supervision at home because I have arthritis and high blood pressure. My neighbor is such a good man. He helps me around the house and comes here with me. I need a lot of help.
"I have kids and grandkids in the neighborhood, but...none of them are well off. My son in Florida is doing good, you know, has a good job. But his son died in a car crash recently. I can't bother him with my problems. Everyone in my family has their own problems and they need to take care of themselves."
We met Mona at the Richmond Senior Services choice-style food pantry in Staten Island, which has been a Food Bank network member for six years.
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