Women
With more than one out of five (21 percent) of women in New York City living below the federal poverty level — compared to 15 percent nationwide — women are one of the largest groups relying on food assistance throughout the five boroughs. Learn more below about our city's women in need with key statistics and stories from the women we help.
- Among women in NYC, 42 percent experienced difficulty affording needed food in 2007 — up 50 percent in five years. (NYC Hunger Experience 2008)
- Almost two-thirds (64 percent) of New Yorkers visiting food pantries are women. (NYC Hunger Safety Net 2007)
- Almost one-quarter (24 percent) of women in NYC would not be able to afford needed food immediately after losing their household income. (NYC Hunger Experience 2008)
Read stories below from women who have received assistance through our network of more than 1,000 food assistance programs throughout the five boroughs. Real names are not used.
Kathy, Staten Island soup kitchen guest
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"I still remember the first day I came to the soup kitchen. It was five years ago. I was very hungry that day and didn't know what I was going to do. Finally someone pointed me here. I was in a really bad place back then, living in an abandoned building in Harlem. "My situation is much better, but I've got HIV and it's really hard to get enough food pretty much every month. I have to pay rent and all my other expenses with $600 SSI [Supplemental Security Income] and $28 in food stamps. "Coming here has helped me out a great deal. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't come here." We met Kathy at the Project Hospitality soup kitchen in Staten Island, which has been a Food Bank network member for nine years.
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Jerralyn, Bronx food pantry guest
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"I turned 30 this March. I was working with the city Park's Enforcement Patrol, but I stopped working four months ago when I was in the eighth month of my pregnancy. I don't have a job to go back to now because the rules say you have to work for nine months before being eligible for maternity leave.
"This summer I filled out a food stamp application, and for the last three months I've received $107 every month in food stamps. I also have Section 8 rent subsidy and I pay only $221 a month for rent. I also receive $206 a week in unemployment.
"Still, it's very hard to survive. I have a five-year-old daughter. My boyfriend left me when he found out I was pregnant with the twins. I have friends and relatives helping me out, and his side of the family helps out too because they feel bad. Since I grew up in a group home, my dream is to have a nice job to be able to give my children a good home. For now, I'm glad the food pantry here is able to help us out."
We met Jerralyn at the CAB Morris Senior Center in the Bronx, which has been a Food Bank network member for three years. Although the center primarily serves seniors, Jerralyn was able to receive a pantry bag with nutritious food for herself and her family.
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