Three Free Meals a Day to All New Yorkers through DOE Meal Hubs
The New York City Department of Education is committed to making free meals available daily for any New Yorker. Any New Yorker who wants one can get free meals at more than 400 Meal Hubs across the city. Find your nearest Meal Hub location on the NYC DOE website or by texting FOOD or COMIDA to 877-877.
- Free “Grab and Go” meals are available for all New Yorkers.
- Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 1:30 pm.
- Meals Hubs will operate for children and families from 7:30 am to 11:30 am, and for adults from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.
- No one will be turned away at any time.
- No registration, ID, or documentation required.
- All three meals a day may be picked up at the same time.
- No dining space is available, so meals must be eaten off premises.
- Parents and guardians may pick up meals for their children.
Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) Food Benefit for NYC Public School Families
Very Important! If you believe or know that your home address is not correct in our school’s system, please contact Ms. Carol Hernandez at CCheldrakeHerna@schools.nyc.gov right away! The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 authorized the payment of P-EBT food benefits to households with children who would have received free or reduced-price school meals under the National School Lunch Act, if not for a school closure. Please read all current information about this program
Food Assistance Program for the PS9 Community
Recently a small group of parents worked to organize a Food Assistance Program for PS9 families struggling due to economic fallout from COVID-19. If your family is experiencing financial hardship during these difficult times, please be in touch. We want to hear from you and it would make us very happy to lend a hand. We’d also love to connect with those of you interested in supporting this initiative.
To arrange aid, contact any one of the following people:
Charmaine Derrell-Jacob, PS9 Parent Coordinator
347-563-5324 / cderrell@schools.nyc.gov
Carolyn Cryer, Parent
646-256-4679 / ccryer@wesleyan.edu
Mike Tilley, Parent
917-239-6825 / michael.b.tilley@gmail.com
We’d also love to connect with those of you interested in supporting this initiative. Please consider making a donation, of any amount
Venmo venmo.com/Michael-Tilley-7
PayPal paypal.me/MichaelTilley
Additional Community Resources
Food Pantries and Community Kitchens – To find the nearest locations, call the Emergency Food Hotline at 866-888-8777
Get Food NYC: COVID-19 Emergency Food Distribution – During the COVID-19 public health crisis, New York City is taking steps to make sure every New Yorker has access to the food they need.
If you are not currently receiving any food benefit (such as Meals on Wheels or SNAP), are unable to get to a grocery store, and do not have anyone to help you, you may qualify for NYC Food Delivery Assistance
The New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA) provides home delivered meals for seniors aged 60+ through the NYC COVID-19 Food Assistance Program. You can access them online or call 311 for support. You also can call 212-244-6469 to see if you qualify for direct delivery.
Check out WIC2Go, a mobile application for recipients of New York State Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits. For more information on WIC support, please visit their website at wicconnect.com or call 844-540-3031, their eWIC card Customer Service line.
Shop for Groceries Online with your SNAP Benefits
If you qualify, you may apply for SNAP (food stamps), Cash Assistance, and Medicaid renewal all at the same time at Access HRA.
CityHarvest offers free food every other week across NYC, you can find a location near you on their website.
Coronavirus NYC Food Resource Guide: Crown Heights/Prospect Heights.
The Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center has partnered with Share Meals, Hunger Free America, BetaNYC and Plentiful to compile the most current and accurate data for these resource guides, which are continually updated.
You can help connect community members in need with food resources during this challenging time by sharing the 59 Coronavirus NYC Food Resource Guides created for each New York City neighborhood by the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center. Each guide includes information on where to get free meals, delivery services for people of all abilities, and resources for immigrants.