Welcome to the Yorkville Common Pantry

Yorkville Common Pantry (YCP) is dedicated to reducing hunger and promoting dignity and self-sufficiency. Our services are provided in the Upper East Side and East Harlem to our neighbors in and around these communities.

As the largest, nonsectarian, neighborhood-based provider of emergency food in New York City, YCP provides 1,250,000 meals annually to all who come seeking relief from hunger. The Pantry was founded in 1981 by a coalition of East Side churches and synagogues and receives strong support from its forty-five member Board of Directors.

YCP News

YCP in the New York Times
YCP is mentioned in the Metro section of the New York Times. The article discusses the efforts of City Harvest to rescue food from farmers and the current struggles of food pantries and soup kitchens to receive food to meet their current demands. Click here to read the New York Times article.

Senator John Edwards Visits YCP

On July 9, 2008, Senator John Edwards visited the Yorkville Common Pantry as Chair of Half in Ten, a joint campaign of ACORN, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Coalition on Human Needs, and Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. By supporting policies such as a higher minimum wage, child care assistance, and homeownership protection, Half in Ten aims to cut poverty in half in the next ten years.

Senator Edwards began the day with an interview on NPR’s Brian Lehrer Show.  The host asked him: “Any reason for this location in New York, out of all the pantries and soup kitchens?” Mr. Edwards responded: “It’s a place where they are doing great work.  It has been very effective over a long period of time.  We thought it is an example of the good things that can be done.”