Feeding Westchester Blog

When most people think about the ways that we fight hunger in our communities, one thing that comes to mind is their local food pantry — and for good reason. Food pantries are essential in the fight against hunger for the nearly 40 million Americans facing food insecurity, and increasingly, they’re becoming mobile entities. In fact, of the 200 food banks in the Feeding America network, 170 had already set up mobile counterparts by 2016. Just as a traditional food pantry is a distribution center that delivers food directly to those in need, think of a mobile food pantry as having the same benefits and goals — only it’s on wheels.

Seasonal workers help businesses thrive during their busiest times of the year, and there may be more temp workers out there than you’d think. Seasonal workers are filling roles in a variety of industries including the auto industry, holiday season retail, and food production (such as farm workers hired during peak crop-picking season, or bakery team members hired to assist with holiday orders). Even in the world of academia, professors with advanced degrees are sometimes hired as temp workers. 

New York is one of the most populous states in the country, widely known as a bustling place where big dreams are chased and fulfilled. But what people may not realize when they think of the state is its poverty level, which is higher than the national average by more than 2 percent. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 13.6 percent of New York residents were living in poverty last year, including nearly 20 percent of the almost 8.4 million people who live in New York City. What are the causes of poverty in New York and which groups of people are affected most? Let’s explore the latest data.

What does poverty look like in New York? Before we dive in, let’s take a look at exactly how poverty is defined. Poverty is the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions. It exists when people lack the means to satisfy their basic needs, including a place to live and consistent meals to eat.