WEST SIDE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HUNGER

ONE MILLION MEALS 2013 ACHIEVEMENTS
FOOD, COUNSELING
& ADVOCACY
■ From July through October, West Side Campaign Against
Hunger provided healthy food to over 11,106 households
containing more than 31,527 people.
Volume 25 | Winter 2013
WEST SIDE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HUNGER
WEST SIDE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HUNGER IS A PROGRAM OF WEST SIDE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY LIFE
YEAR-END APPEAL
■ Volunteers donated 3,851 hours!
■ We partnered with dozens of other organizations in the
Lunch for Learning Campaign to help advocate for a free and
healthy lunch for all students in New York City!
■ 17 students graduated from the Chef Training Program led
by Chef Andrea Bergquist
■ 35 students participated in our ESL classes to improve their
English skills under the instruction of Heidi Erlich.
THE NEED INCREASES
We have seen a gradual increase in the number
of families turning to us for help since Hurricane
Sandy. In October 2013 we provided food to 19%
more families than October 2012.
On November 1, all New York City families receiving SNAP/Food Stamps lost $10-15 per person
monthly in benefits. That’s a loss of 76 million
Food Stamp meals annually in the New York
area. We will spend 33% more on food this year to
meet the increasing need.
Your support is critical to keeping our shelves full
of the healthy food our clients rely on.
DONATION FORM
Name ______________________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________________
Checks should be made payable to
West Side Campaign Against Hunger.
Letter from the Executive Director
Dear Friends,
I have only known Russell since he entered our chef
training in class in June, but I am proud to consider him a
friend. You can read his full story inside the newsletter.
When Russell completed the course with honors in late
summer, Chef Andrea sent him to a job interview. He
didn’t have a telephone number to give the interviewer.
He had an email address, but no regular access to a
computer. The interviewer tried to follow up by email, got
tired of waiting and hired someone else.
You need a phone to get a job. We know how to get
phones for low-income people. But only through this
experience did we learn about Russell’s obstacle to
finding work. Chef Andrea called Russell’s case manager
at Bowery Mission and in a matter of days he had the
phone he needed.
I am continually learning about the small steps that
enable big changes. You may see Russell working next
time you visit the Shake Shack on Columbus Avenue. He’s
glad to have the opportunity for a fresh start. I know that
Shake Shack has found a treasure,
I am continually
learning about
the small steps
that enable big
changes.
Thank you for your support,
(for credit cards, billing address please)
You can also donate online at
City, State, Zip _______________________________________________________________ www.wscah.org. West Side Campaign
Against Hunger is a program of West
E-mail ______________________________________________________________________ Side Center for Community Life Tax
ID 71-0908184. Donations are fully
Donation Amount $ __________
deductible to the extent permissible by
Credit card # ________________________________________ Exp Date ______________ law. For more information, e-mail or call
Maryanne Nigro, [email protected] or
□ ❑ Visa
□ ❑ Master Card
□ ❑ AmEx
□ ❑ Discover
(212) 362-3662 x127. Mail to 263 West
86th Street, NY, NY 10024.
□ ❑ Please make this a monthly donation
Signature_____________________________________________________________________
West Side Campaign Against Hunger | Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew | 263 West 86th Street | New York, NY 10024
(212) 362-3662 | www.wscah.org
Stewart Desmond, Executive Director
VOLUNTEERS
You won’t find a harder worker than our own Maria Fabian. Master of
the check-out station, Maria knows the pantry’s point system by heart
and carefully ensures that each client receives the proper amount of
food. Last year, Maria was responsible for an amazing 1,444 hours of
the total 23,897 hours of service donated by volunteers.
WE THANK OUR MANY SUPPORTERS
Foundations
Robin Hood
Single Stop USA
Achelis Foundation
Catherine & Joseph Aresty Foundation
Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Inc.
Barker Welfare Foundation
Marilyn S. Broad Foundation
Cole-Birches Foundation
Columbia Community Service
Common Cents
Day Is Done Foundation
Feeding America
The Fisch Family
Forward Current Foundation
Gerson Family Foundation
Bernard F. & Alva B. Gimbel Foundation
Gottesman Fund
Jaharis Family Foundation
Frances Lear Foundation
Marina and Andrew Lewin Family Foundation
McDonald-Peterson Foundation
New York Community Trust
New York Women’s Culinary Alliance
Frank Pace Jr. Foundation
Posner-Wallace Foundation
Barbara Slifka Philanthropic Fund
Michael Tuch Foundation
Venable Foundation
Religious Organizations
Brick Presbyterian Church
Christ & St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew
Congregation Ansche Chesed
Congregation B’nai Jeshurun
Congregation Emanu-El
Congregation Rodeph Sholom
Society for the Advancement of Judaism
Advent Lutheran Church
Broadway United Church of Christ
Church of the Blessed Sacrament
Church World Service, Crop Walk
Congregation Beth Elohim
Congregation Habonim
Episcopal Charities
Evangelical Lutheran Church
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
First Hungarian Congregation
Fourth Universalist Society
Global Ministries, United Methodist Church
Grace & St. Paul’s Church
Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Jewish Community Center in Manhattan
PARTNERS
Jewish Theological Seminary
Lincoln Square Synagogue
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
Mechon Hadar
Presbytery of New York
Romemu
Rutgers Presbyterian Church
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
Sacred Center of New York
Second Presbyterian Church
Society for Ethical Culture of New York City
Trinity Lutheran Church of Manhattan
West End Collegiate Church
West End Presbyterian Church
West End Synagogue
West Park Presbyterian Church
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah
Corporate
Goldman Sachs Gives
110 Riverside Drive Tenants Corporation
Alfred Dunner, Inc.
American Securities Capital Partners
Assurant Foundation
Bank of America
Bayer Healthcare
Con Edison
Great Performances
JP Morgan Chase
Jefferies & Co.
Kasirer Consulting
Labaton Sucharow LLC
Manhattan Media LLC
Morgan Stanley
Tiffany & Co.
Well Spring Advisers LLC
UBS
Government
NYS Hunger Prevention & Nutrition Assistance
The Emergency Food & Shelter Program
NYC Council
Manhattan Borough President
NYC Department of Youth & Community Development
NYC Department for the Aging
NYC Emergency Food Assistance Program
Agencies
City Harvest
Food Bank for New York City
United Way of New York City
Community Service Society
Coalition for a Livable West Side
Mitchell-Lama Residents Coalition
Risk Management Association New York Chapter
A STORY OF SUCCESS
Goods and Services
B.R. Guest Hospitality
Barney Greengrass
Bella Luna
Bistro D’Alsace
Bodrum Restaurant
Brooklyn Brewery
Celeste Restaurant
City Diner
Cream of the Crop CSA
Columbus Avenue BID
Comfort Ye
CSA at Ansche Chesed/Hazon
CSA at Central Park West
CSA at Manhattan School for Children
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola
Duane Reade
Eli’s Bread
Ernesto’s Jewelry
Fairway Market
First Press Public Relations
Gastronomie 491
Goya
Great Performances
Gristedes
Hyco
Jacob’s Pickles
Joe: the Art of Coffee
Mani Market
La Mirabelle
Murray’s Sturgeon Shop
Orwasher’s Bakery
Roxbury Farm CSA
Sarabeth’s West
Shake Shack
Starbucks
Symphony Vet
Telepan
Trader Joe’s
Tyson Foods
Vai Restaurant
Yes We Can Food Drive
Ethical Culture Fieldston School
Fashion Institute of Technology
Heschel School
Hostos College
Mechon Hadar
New York University
PS 1
PS 75
PS 84
PS/MS 161
SAJ Hebrew School
Solomon Schechter School
Teacher’s College
Trinity School
West End Synagogue Hebrew School
Schools
Beacon School
B’nai Jeshurun Hebrew School
Jonas Bronck Academy MS 228
Calhoun School
Collegiate School
Columbia School
Columbia University
Congregation Rodeph Sholom School
CUNY Elementary School
Darien High School
Dwight School
And, of course, all our many
generous individual donors!
Dedicated Donations’
In memory of Bob Goldstein:
Anna Harrington
Elizabeth Harris
John Swadba
In honor of Jack Rosenthal’s Bar Mitzvah
Arthur and Hilda Wenig
Judith Schwartz
Louise Sonet
Lisel & Stanley Goodman
Judith & Mort Berkowitz
In honor of Michael Stewart & Kevin McMullen
Judith Weil Epstein & Lloyd Epstein
In honor of Sam Solvasallo
Nora C. Gaines
In memory of Dora & Harry Ginsberg
Denise & Herman Hagedorn
In memory of June Muller
Sarit Horowitz
In honor of Shoshi Rosenbaum
Deborah Karpatkin & Ian Benjamin
In honor of Rhoda Karpatkin
Mary & Bob McKuin
In honor of Kameron Kordastani
Constance G. Rubin
In honor of Susan Savel
Single Stop
Single Stop USA is a national non-profit organization that works to ensure that individuals
have access to the benefits and services for which they are eligible. With the technical and
financial support of Robin Hood and Single Stop, we are able to offer “single stop” services
that allow our clients to access many public benefits (such as SNAP/Food Stamps) at the
West Side Campaign Against Hunger offices. In 2012 alone, Single Stop helped 156,821
families access more than $470 million in benefits through health insurance, SNAP and
financial, legal and tax preparation services.
NEED HELP?
West Side Campaign Against Hunger emergency food pantry is located at
263 West 86th Street in the basement of the Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew.
On your first visit, you’ll meet a counselor who’ll help you find long-term help
before your visit to the food pantry. You should bring proof of income and
household size.
A list of acceptable documents can be found at www.wscah.org
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Monday 8 a.m.-12 noon; 1-6:30 p.m.
Wednesday to Friday 8 a.m.-12 noon; 1-3 p.m.
classes per week, he found himself
attending all four classes, getting as much
practice as he could. In addition to honing
his knife skills, Russell was picking up a
remarkable amount of kitchen Spanish,
which would help him find employment.
At the end of the twelve weeks, Russell
graduated near the top of his class.
Since graduation, he has been one of
the most active graduates in looking for
employment, applying for every job he
found and attending numerous interviews.
West Side Campaign Against Hunger
offers a twelve-week Chef Training
program to low-income New Yorkers who
aspire to work in the food industry. Taught
by Chef/Instructor Andrea Bergquist, the
course introduces students to the basics
of working in a kitchen, including knife
skills, sanitation and cooking techniques.
In 2010, Russell Brown lost his job as
a bus driver and turned to alcohol.
Eventually he went to the Bowery Mission
to help him get his life back on track. Tim
Knapp, Manager of the Career Center at
the Bowery Mission, introduced Russell to
our Chef Training Program.
On the first day of class, Russell was
unsure of how he would get along with
Chef Andrea. When Russell asked a
question, Chef Andrea gave him a stern
look and said, “I haven’t finished speaking
yet.” When Russell arrived late on the
second day of class, Chef Andrea told
him he had made the entire class wait.
Russell thought to himself, “This lady and
I are never going to get along.”
Russell quickly proved himself wrong.
Chef Andrea’s structured approach to
the classroom helped him learn. Though
Russell was only required to attend two
Though Russell was only
required to attend two
classes per week, he found
himself attending all four
classes, getting as much
practice as he could.
To help Russell on his job search, Chef
Andrea worked with him to create a
resume and get a cell phone, along with
providing job leads. The job search can
be discouraging. Russell was told that he
would hear something in a few days . . .
then nothing happened. Finally Stewart
and Chef Andrea recommended him for
an interview at Shake Shack, a long-time
supporter of West Side Campaign Against
Hunger. After an interview at the Upper
West Side location, Russell received a call
welcoming him as a new member of the
Shake Shack team.
Through the Chef Training Program,
Russell gained valuable skills and also
saw a great improvement in his selfesteem. He is now well on his way to a
productive and successful future. At West
Side Campaign Against Hunger, we know
that job training and placement are key
ways to eliminate hunger.
MATCHING & PLANNED GIVING
Many companies offer Matching Gift
Programs that can double, even triple
the amount of your gift. Please ask if your
workplace matches employee donations.
Also consider making a Planned Gift to
West Side Campaign Against Hunger.
Through the charitable gift planning
process, you and your family can receive
financial and tax benefits while providing
support for New York’s hungry. For more
information contact: [email protected].
WEST SIDE
CAMPAIGN
AGAINST HUNGER
MISSION
Through a
supermarket-style food
pantry, West Side Campaign Against Hunger
alleviates hunger and creates a culture that
promotes self-reliance and works for change.
West Side Campaign Against Hunger changes
our perception of hungry people by working
in partnership with them, providing food with
dignity, and empowering customers to find
solutions.
Board of Directors
Steven Aresty
Judy Bass
Bruce Bergquist
Robin Biderman
Gina Boonshoft
Monique Cofer-Delbridge
Daniele Gerard
David Goldberg
Christine Green
Kenneth J. Guest II
Lawrence Hui
Elizabeth Jensen
Gayle Johnson
Joanna Kapner
Rhoda Karpatkin
Rev. James Karpen
Eden Kidner
Sarah Kovner
Michael Lee
William McAllister
Edwin Ortiz
Alex Peltz
Steve Rogers, Vice Chair
Cynthia Roney, Chair
Margot Rosenberg
Susan Samuels
Rebecca Sparks
Andrew Strott
Andrew Tomback
Jay Torres
Barbara Wheeler-Bride
Advisory Board
Mark Aaron
Tom Asher
Frank Branchini
Suzanne Davis
Barbara Ellis
Adam Epstein
Fern Estrow
Richard Fine
Marsha Flowers
Betsy Gotbaum
Jacob Hadjigeorgis
Wolf Hengst
Heidi Ho
Dale Lindquist
Carlyle Miller, M.D.
Liz Neumark
Julia Reidhead
Rabbi Joanna Samuels
Judy Senderowitz
Mary Riley Smith
Nancy Solomon
Diane Velletri
Jessica Weber
Amy Weintraub
Arnold Weintraub