YCP TIME LINE

Yorkville Common Pantry (YCP) is New York City’s largest single-site community based food pantry.  Since opening in 1980 as a small neighborhood pantry serving 30 families, YCP has grown into New York City's most innovative emergency food provider offering meals and support services to more than 25,000 individuals.  YCP has undertaken a multitude of new initiatives that help make a difference in the lives of our clients.  While the programs have expanded and changed over the past 30 years, YCP's mission to reduce hunger and promote dignity and self-sufficiency has remained constant.  In addition, YCP's commitment to innovation and collaboration in order to better serve the community's needs has defined its unique standing among other food programs in New York City.

1980's

1980 - YCP becomes one of the first 20 emergency food pantries in NYC, distributing pantry to 30 families in the basement of Holy Trinity Church
1982 - YCP begins operating its first hot meal program at PS 151 at 1st Avenue and 91st Street
1986/7 - YCP expands from the basement of Holy Trinity Church to its new facilities on 109th Street
1987 - YCP provides complete holiday dinners for 250 families
1988 - YCP partners with Momentum to start "Lunch for Life" Program, to serve people living with AIDS

1990's

1992 - YCP’s first Capital Campaign raises $700,000 for renovations
1992 - Project Dignity beings serving breakfast 5 days a week. Showers and laundry facilities are provided for the first time as well
1993 - YCP holds its first Joint School Association dances for 6th and 7th grade students from local Independent Schools
1994 - YCP begins operating a small overnight shelter for 8 homeless Project Dignity clients
1997 - Mt. Sinai Hospital offers volunteer health care services at YCP

2000's

2000 - Due to growing incidence of unemployment, YCP adds Saturday as Pantry Distribution Day
2002 - YCP's Hot Meal Program moves to 8 East 109th Street in East Harlem
2003 - YCP opens the 24|7YCP program, the only 24 hour, 7 day-a-week emergency food program in New York State
2005 - Food Bank for NYC honors YCP as its 'Food Program of the Year'
2007 - After renovating its East Harlem facility, YCP builds additional floor, which reduces wait time, increases the number of clients able to be served, and eliminates the "breadline" on the street
2009 - YCP is the recipient of Robin Hood Foundation’s "Hero Award" and New York State Department of Health Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program's "Best Practice Award"
2009 - YCP serves 2 million meals for the first time
2009 - 24|7YCP converts to 365 YCP, with specific focus on acquiring benefits and entitlements for YCP visitors
2010 - Fresh Food Initiative is started to reduce the amount of canned fruits and vegetables served in Pantry.  Fresh Food Initiative results in at least tripling the amount of fresh food pantry families receive
2011 - YCP converts its Pantry operation to Choice Pantry, empowering clients to be active participants in the distribution process by encouraging them to pick the nutritious food they would like to receive.  Each pantry package provides 12 meals for each member of the family.
2011 - 365 YCP and onsite partners access over $3.4 million in benefits, entitlements, and tax assistance for YCP families
2011 - NICF swells to 186 sessions in one year, more than double the sessions offered in 2010. 5,521 individuals participate in NICF sessions