Columbia Neighbors Food Relief Fund

Columbia University is stepping up to help local food relief efforts by launching the Columbia Neighbors Food Relief Fund. It brings together the extraordinary resources of the entire Columbia community to heighten awareness, raise funds, and deploy resources to address food insecurity in Upper Manhattan. We have a deep commitment to the well-being of our neighbors, especially those with increasingly limited or uncertain access to food due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Every dollar donated to the fund will be used to support the program. To date, the Fund has distributed over $200,000 to support organizations providing food relief like CLOTH, Cathedral Community Cares, Holyrood Church, Uplift NYC, Cornerstone, PA'LANTE, & more.

While the most recent campaign has ended - you can continue to support food relief efforts in Upper Manhattan by donating to the Columbia Community Service 74th Annual Appeal and to the CUIMC Neighborhood Fund.

The Columbia Community Service (CCS) 74th Annual Appeal is committed to fight hunger in Harlem and Morningside Heights while supporting health and education services that promote literacy, STEM, and nutrition.

 

The Medical Center Neighborhood Fund distributes critical grants to local nonprofits that provide food, shelter, clothing, day care, after-school programs, and recreational opportunities for people who would otherwise lack these essentials and services.  

Giving Back to the Community

Food Insecurity on the Rise

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the pre-existing food insecurity crisis in New York City to an unprecedented level. City residents make up half of all food insecure people living in New York State with nearly two million people, approximately a quarter of the city's population, now set to face a new level of need due to this crisis.

Hunger and limited access to affordable fresh food have been major challenges for communities in Upper Manhattan since long before the current pandemic. Now, New Yorkers who have never needed assistance to feed their families are turning to charities for help. More than 400,000 New Yorkers are currently out of work, along with thousands of seniors and immuno-compromised people who are at high risk. In the current state of emergency, food programs are being pushed to the limit as their pantries struggle to keep up and the city scrambles to meet demand while restricting physical access to food programs.

If you would like more information about the Columbia Neighbors Food Relief Fund, please email [email protected].