United Way of New York recently visited HELP Morris to evaluate the impact of an Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) grant awarded earlier this year. This vital funding has enabled HELP to enhance its onsite food pantry, significantly expanding the variety and volume of offerings to support over 190 families with their weekly grocery needs. Additionally, part of the grant was allocated for linens and kitchen supplies, ensuring that newly arriving families receive essential items such as bedsheets, blankets, pillows, cookware, and utensils, which help alleviate the stress and trauma associated with temporary homelessness.
The visiting group included Grace Bonilla, President & CEO of United Way of NYC; Larry Klane, UWNYC Board Member; Catherine Boyle, Senior Managing Director at Webster Bank; NY State Assembly Member Landon Dais (Bronx District 77); Hennessy Reyes, Chief of Staff for NYS Senator Luis Sepulveda (District 32); and representatives from organizations such as The Bridge Fund, The Partnership to End Homelessness, The Hispanic Federation, Food Bank for NYC, Hunger Free America, The Salvation Army, and the NYC Department of Social Services.
Jessica Greenaway, Executive Director of HELP Morris, led the group on a tour that showcased the Food Pantry and the thriving Morris Garden, where resident families have planted vegetable plots funded by a separate United Way SEED grant – HELP USA is one of three pilot grantees.
Greenaway highlighted the pantry’s importance, stating:
“Providing our families with access to nutritious and culturally appropriate foods has been a blessing, especially for those with very young children who may struggle to reach grocery stores. The pantry is essential for helping families balance their budgets and provide healthy meals, and we are deeply grateful for the support from United Way.”
Families striving to regain their independence and transition out of temporary shelters like HELP Morris often rely on inadequate supports such as SNAP or WIC, which leave them short on funds and facing food insecurity. As inflation continues to rise, it is increasingly urgent for private funders like United Way to fill these critical gaps, ensuring that our neighbors in need do not go hungry while they work to recover and restore their dignity.
