Support the West Side Campaign Against Hunger
Join West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH) in the Fight Against Hunger
In this time of extreme food insecurity, our neighbors at West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH) strive to alleviate hunger by ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to food and critical support services with dignity and choice. This High Holy Days season, please support WSCAH by donating online or bringing a check with you on Kol Nidre and dropping it in the designated boxes.
Below is a statement from WSCAH on their services, successes, and how BJ’s ongoing support bolsters WSCAH’s critical work.
At WSCAH, we believe that access to healthy food is a fundamental human right. For more than 44 years, we have worked tirelessly in pursuit of our mission to ensure that all New Yorkers have access with dignity to a choice of healthy food and supportive services. Today, WSCAH provides healthy food access across 30 distribution sites in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn. We consistently provide food-insecure New Yorkers with some of the most nutritious food available in the NYC emergency food system.
Every New Yorker who comes to us for help leaves with a 4-day supply of USDA MyPlate balanced groceries including whole grains, heart-healthy proteins, dairy (including options for lactose intolerant customers such as almond milk), and fresh fruits & vegetables. Last year, 55% of all food distributed by WSCAH was fresh produce.
WSCAH also offers customers a comprehensive suite of services aimed at helping families on their journey to food security. All first-time customers who come through WSCAH’s door meet with a member of our Benefits Access team who guides them through an initial intake assessment, informs them what benefits and services they might be eligible for, and helps them to sign up for vital benefits such as SNAP (formerly known as food stamps).
WSCAH is more than an emergency food provider, we are a community dedicated to change. B’nai Jeshurun plays a critical role in our WSCAH community as donors and volunteers, helping us continue to provide healthy food and supportive service access to those who need it. Thanks to your generous support, WSCAH has served over 123,000 household healthy food distributions, providing food-insecure New Yorkers with 3.9 million lbs of healthy food, including 55% fresh produce. Our Benefits Access team connected 1,057 families to vital benefits, including over $2.2 million in SNAP assistance.
The Need in New York City
Skyrocketing food prices, surging rents, and a significant reduction in government support are compounding factors impacting people’s ability to provide food for their families. At WSCAH, we’re witnessing an unprecedented surge in individuals seeking food. In the month of August alone, we provided assistance to 6,723 households, marking a staggering 57% increase compared to the same period last year.
How to Support WSCAH
Donate: Donations by check can be dropped off at any in-person BJ Kol Nidre service. You can also donate online at www.wscah.org/BJ or mail a check to West Side Campaign Against Hunger, 263 West 86th Street, New York, NY 10024. To make a gift through a stock or wire transfer, please contact WSCAH’s External Affairs team at development@wscah.org.
Volunteer: Join us in distributing healthy foods to those in need. You can see available volunteer shifts here.
Donate Non-Perishable Items: We also accept donations of canned goods and other non-perishable items to complement the holiday food packages. A complete list of accepted foods can be found here.