Dual public health crises--COVID-19 and systemic racism--have exposed disparities in health and wealth.  These crises have highlighted how important access to healthy food and to health services are. Investing in community and school-based organizations is one way the City can ensure our communities are stronger, safer, and healthier moving forward. 

Community and school-based food and nutrition organizations have played key roles during these crises, providing meals, delivering groceries, communicating about available food These organizations, just like the communities they serve, cannot afford to lose critical resources. These organizations rely on City-funded programs like the Food Ed Hub, the Summer Youth Employment Project (SYEP), and GrowNYC School Gardens. 

New York City’s FY 2021 Budget should prioritize prevention services and address health disparities in our City’s communities of color. To ensure New Yorkers are stronger, safer, and healthier moving forward, we urge the Mayor and City Council to fully fund the Food Ed Hub, SYEP, and GrowNYC School Gardens in the FY 2021 budget.

The Food Ed Coalition is calling on the NYC Mayor and City Council to do the following in the FY21 budget:

• Fully fund the Food Ed Hub;
• Restore funding for Summer Youth Employment Program; and
• Restore funding for GrowNYC School Gardens (formerly Grow to Learn).