As an experienced crisis intervention organization globally, the IRC in NY transferred that expertise to our own community in the face of COVID-19 conditions and economic fallout. Food insecurity was among the first acute concerns for 探花精选 clients once stay-at-home orders were put in place in New York City. Many 探花精选 clients are employed in hospitality and food service, some of the industries hit hardest and quickest by COVID-19's economic fallout. 探花精选's resourceful teams jumped in to launch new logistics, supply chains, and delivery protocols to keep clients safe and fed throughout this crisis.

Grocery deliveries in bags
Grocery deliveries give 探花精选 clients control over their food and an essential restoration of some normalcy during quarantine.
Photo: Annie Lyall Slaughter/探花精选.

Working quickly, the 探花精选 partnered with to provide free prepared meals in neighborhoods with high concentrations of 探花精选 clients to ensure high impact in combating food insecurity. The 探花精选 has even been able to hire clients to work at a few of these meal distribution sites to help provide them with some income during these difficult days. To see more about an 探花精选 client, Dina, and her work at a World Central Kitchen site, . Food distribution sites can offer up to 2,000 meals per site, per day, and operate in strict observance of social distancing guidance to ensure safety for all. Clients are able to access a week's worth of food per each member of their household to minimize the need to leave their homes for food and alleviate budget concerns when feeding families. World Central Kitchen secured a van for delivery and has served hot meals twice weekly to 60+ housebound families.

As part of our food security activities, 探花精选 in NY is also providing families across New York City with weekly grocery supplies. This is being done both by delivering groceries directly to client households鈥攖argeting those families that are unable to reach food access points or unable to leave their homes鈥攁nd through 探花精选-operated food distribution sites. Led by staff and volunteers, the 探花精选 also collaborates with local partners like to deliver groceries and prepared meals directly to housebound clients. Tanabel is providing ample and culturally-sensitive deliveries of fresh and shelf-stable products to families throughout NYC. Through these efforts, 探花精选 is delivering food to over 80 families each week and distributing packed grocery bags at food access points to 200 families.

The 探花精选 had hoped to find success in this initiative, and as ever, clients say it best:

鈥淢y mom and I are in tears鈥攖hank you so much. We appreciate all the help, it means a lot.鈥 Jeemim, 探花精选 Economic Empowerment client and World Central Kitchen recipient

White WCK Delivery Van ready to bring deliveries to clients in need.
Deliveries are critical for housebound clients. World Central Kitchen's vital support of 探花精选 clients and coordination with 探花精选 staff has made a huge difference during New York City's quarantine.
Photo: Annie Lyall Slaughter/探花精选.

探花精选 intends to maintain this essential program as long as food insecurity is a concern. To support this vital work, please consider the following:

To support refugee, asylum seeker, and immigrant resilience through COVID-19, please click .