Benny’s Food Pantry to Remain Open During Coronavirus Lockdowns By Sarah Logan
nutritious meals because of lack of money, or going hungry due
On March 13th, Benny’s Food Pantry an-
to lack of access to food.
nounced that it would stay open despite
As the Coronavirus affects
City College’s campus closure caused by
millions around the world,
the COVID-19 pandemic. The pantry, which
many are seeing the effects
is located in the NAC’s Hoffman Lounge,
of decreasing food supply
serves members of the campus communi-
and the increase in food in-
ty by providing students with necessary
security. Mayor Bill de Blasio
food resources. It intends on continuing its
expressed his concern during a
services for the students, staff, and Har-
briefing. “I fear the number is go-
lem community members who are in need.
ing to be around 2 million New Yorkers who are food insecure as this crisis deep-
Benny’s Food Pantry, created through a NYP-
ens,” he said. “That’s a horrifying number.”
IRG and Colin Powell School partnership, was revamped and opened to the public on October
Benny’s Food Pantry is working hard to
nate non-perishable goods for the pantry to
15th, 2019. Stocked with canned and boxed
combat this issue. Their Facebook page urg-
email bennysfoodpantry@ccny.cuny.edu.
foods, the pantry sought this opportunity to
es individuals to visit the pantry if they are
give back to staff and students. “The food pan-
in need. “CCNY food pantry is open for all
Although the pandemic has caused many indi-
try also represents an opportunity for each of
CUNY students and Harlem community,” they
viduals to alter their lifestyles, Benny’s Food
us, to the extent that we are capable, to contrib-
write. Appointments can be made through
Pantry continues to remain functional and
ute to the well-being of the campus communi-
their Facebook Page ccny_bennys_food-
accessible. Thanks to the community mem-
ty,” Vince Boudreau, the President of City Col-
pantry as they continue to stay open from
bers who volunteer their time, give back to
lege, wrote in an update on the CCNY website.
6 6
Monday to Friday from 10 am to 3 pm.
the pantry, and keep it serviceable, members
Before opening again after the campus’
of the CCNY and Harlem community can
In a 2018 survey by Healthy CUNY, an es-
closure, the pantry placed an order of
use this valuable resource. “A food pantry
timated 52,550 undergraduate students at
non-perishable items much larger than they
should be a site for joyful exchange, where
CUNY community and 4-year colleges re-
were previously used to. This measure was
we can both give to, and take from, members
ported that they experienced 2 or more of
to “allow as many visitors to have access
of our community with an equal measure of
the 4 USDA indicators of food insecurity.
to pantry goods as possible,” Dee Dee Mo-
mutual respect and trust,” Boudreau writes.
These include: worrying that they would
zeleski, the Director of Institution Advance-
The pantry is doing just that. On the
run out of food before they could afford to
ment for the Colin Powell School, wrote in
Benny’s Food Bank Facebook page, its
buy more, cutting or skipping meals because
an update on the CCNY website. She urges
members urge the community to “take
of lack of money, unable to eat balanced or
anyone who would like to volunteer or do-
care of yourselves and each other.”
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