Food resource guide worth getting behind

The food insecurity problem in the Bronx and greater Riverdale continues to grow as evidenced by the latest Homeless Outreach Population Estimate. It found the borough has 222 unsheltered homeless individuals.

While the “census” of the homeless is required by federal law under the Department of Housing and Urban Development, there is no requirement to provide information to the hungry on a regular basis. That is left to good Samaritans like Art for AID and other not-for-profits in greater Riverdale

The number of Americans without enough food over a seven-day period was an average of 40 percent higher in September and October 2023 than in September and October 2021, according to a report released by the nonprofit group Hunger Free America, based on an analysis of federal data.

Over that time period, the number of people without enough food increased from 19.7 million to 27.8 million nationwide.

Locally, Art for AID through the leadership of Richard Feldman of Riverdale is trying to make a difference. Feldman, a volunteer with the organization, has been trying to create a comprehensive resource guide for those in the area looking for different food resources.

The current list of resources Feldman has collected includes:

• Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, 3101 Kingsbridge Terrace, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays

• Love Kitchen, 204th Street and 10th Avenue, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday

• Part of the Solution Food Pantry, 2759 Webster Ave., 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Monday through Saturday

• Part of the Solution Dining Room, 2759 Webster Ave., 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday

• Marble Hill Food Pantry at St. Stephens United Methodist Church, 146 West 228th St., 3 p.m., Monday, Feb. 19

• The Friendly Fridge, sponsored by the Riverdale Neighborhood House, corner of 256^th Street and Mosholu Avenue

• The Friendly Fridge BX, Manhattan College Parkway, one block west of Broadway at 242^nd Street

• Met Council Food Distribution at The Riverdale Y on the fourth Wednesday of the month, 5625 Arlington Ave.

• Lunch programs for seniors (Riverdale Y New Beginnings, Riverdale Senior Services, NW Bronx Food Justice Coalition, Riverdale Neighborhood House Food and Farm Hub)

• Farmer to Fridge Network, Riverdale Y Sunday Market, 4545 Independence Ave.

These are just some of the places people can go to get free food to fight off food insecurity locally. Ideally, Feldman will be able to create the comprehensive guide for food resources soon. That is where the community can help. In addition to posting the list online, Feldman would like to publish the guide and hand it out to the homeless, migrants, and others who have gone hungry.

You can do your part by contributing the location of other food pantries, soup kitchens, community fridges, and more food resources by visiting Art for AID’s Facebook page or emailing information to rdfeld@aol.com.

And be sure to check out riverdalepress.com for more.