New York is surely the city in the world that is suffering most from the ravages of the COVID 19 pandemic. Although we cannot ignore that before the crisis, a million people suffered from food insecurity, the actions taken to date in this emergency context represent a historical convergence between local government, the private sector and civil society actors to feed more than eight million New Yorkers.
In this sense, New York has released its plan to feed a city that is divided in two phases with the promise of supporting and strengthening the food system workers in the region for the future.
As noted in the Feeding New York plan introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented crisis in New York City. We are at the epicenter of a public health emergency that has frozen economic activity across the country, cast millions of Americans into unemployment, and sickened thousands of our fellow New Yorkers.
In the last three weeks alone, the City has provided approximately 4.5 million meals to hungry New Yorkers. In total, the City is investing $170 million over the next several months in this unprecedented effort to feed New Yorkers.
“Feeding New York” is the City’s plan to feed hungry New Yorkers throughout this crisis and protect the security of our food supply chain. Our approach begins with immediate steps to secure our food supply chain and feed hungry and vulnerable New Yorkers. In the coming weeks, we will transition to the second phase, preparing for evolving and growing needs and building resilience into our food supply.
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/home/downloads/pdf/reports/2020/Feeding-New-York.pdf