BP BREWER AND CM CHIN JOIN BPCA, DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE & AND LOCAL VOLUNTEERS TO MARK EXPANSION OF FRESH FOOD FOR SENIORS PROGRAM

Program Now Serves Downtown Seniors in Chinatown, the Financial District, Tribeca & Battery Park City

Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer, Council Member Margaret S. Chin, Downtown Alliance President Jessica Lappin, and Battery Park City Authority President & CEO B.J. Jones today joined local seniors and volunteers at the Battery Park City Community Room to pack healthy and nutritious produce as part of the Fresh Food for Seniors program. Fresh Food for Seniors partners with local organizations and Council Members to enable older New Yorkers to purchase fresh, regionally-grown fruits and vegetables for just $8 a bag. With one-in-seven seniors food insecure in New York City, this program helps to increase the nutritional safety net for older New Yorkers.

“Healthy, nutritious food should be available to everyone, but especially to elderly New Yorkers,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “I’m thrilled that we were able to serve so many seniors this past season and I look forward to expanding the program again in 2020.”

“With one-in-seven seniors food insecure in New York City, the Fresh Food for Seniors program serves a vital role in increasing the nutritional safety net for older New Yorkers,” said Council Member Margaret Chin. “Today, I am proud to join Borough President Brewer, Downtown Alliance President Lappin and Battery Park City Authority President & CEO B.J. Jones in celebrating the expansion of this wonderful program to Downtown Manhattan.”

“Access to healthy, locally-sourced food is important for all New Yorkers, and especially our seniors, who are often discouraged by rising costs and mobility challenges,” said Jessica Lappin, President of the Alliance for Downtown New York. “We’re thrilled to see such high levels of participation in this program and proud to be a part of the team that helps make this happen.”

“We’re honored to work with neighborhood volunteers and our community partners to expand healthy food options to local seniors,” said BPCA President & CEO B.J. Jones. “Credit goes to Gale Brewer for first creating this program, Council Member Chin and our BPC Seniors for coordinating volunteers for its downtown expansion, and Downtown Alliance President Lappin and her team for delivering the fresh food to program participants. Thanks also to our dedicated Parks Programming staff who help make this possible in our new community room.”

Downtown seniors can sign up at three locations – the BPC Community Room at 200 Rector Place, St. Margaret’s House on Fulton Street, and Southbridge Towers on Beekman Street – to participate, with delivery dates every other Tuesday this fall (remaining dates October 22 & November 5). The program is intended to run again from June-November 2020. All produce is ordered through GrowNYC at wholesale prices from farmers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. To date, an average of 80 local seniors have been served per week by this expansion, which launched downtown this summer.

Expansion of Fresh Food for Seniors to downtown Manhattan joins existing efforts on the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, and the West Village. More information about the program can be found here.

To volunteer for the next packing session please contact BPC Seniors at: bpcseniors@gmail.com.

Back to Blog Homepage