YCP’s Food Pantry Program is New York City’s largest community based food pantry and is designed to meet the needs of our families by providing culturally appropriate and nutritionally-balanced food. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, YCP is able to distribute grocery packages to between 1,600 and 1,800 needy families. Our Friday Pantry distribution aims to meet the needs of our Senior Citizens and Disabled Pantry Members. Additionally our unique Saturday Pantry distribution is able to serve the working poor and those participating in education or training programs during the week. Volunteers prepare bags of groceries that provide each family member three meals for three days. A typical pantry package includes items such as unsweetened fruit juice, sugar-free cereal, 1% or skim shelf-stable milk, pasta, rice, low-sodium or no sodium canned vegetables, fresh produce, bread and frozen meat.

YCP Pantry workers see Pantry Members on a regular basis to screen for entitlements and/or benefits; assist with acquiring benefits such as Public Assistance or Social Security Supplemental Income or make employment referrals; and provide assistance with accessing the appropriate resources to prevent families from being evicted from their homes. Through unique collaborations with New York City’s Human Resources Administration and other social service providers, YCP Pantry Workers are also able to directly process Food Stamps and Medicaid applications for our families on-site.