On a freezing Tuesday in January, days after a storm delivered 10 inches of snow, Pastor Phil Wittenberg walked into The Salvation Army’s Astoria Community Center and immediately knew there was a crisis: there was no heat and no water. Kitchen operations had to cease, but in less than 24 hours, The Salvation Army was expecting to feed 150 of the city’s most vulnerable neighbors as they arrived for a daily hot meal—a lifeline many depended on during one of the coldest days (and weeks) of winter.
But all hope was not lost.
Responding in Hours, Not Days
At 2:03 PM, Hope For New York went into immediate action through the Hunger Collective program by connecting The Salvation Army with Rethink Food. Within 10 minutes, Rethink Food’s Director of Programs, Africa Dawson-Cessant, had committed to delivering 150 hot, individually packaged meals directly to the Astoria location. “We’re truly grateful for the trust [Hope For New York] placed in us, and it meant a great deal to our team to help ensure meals continued during such a challenging moment,” shared Dawson-Cessant.
By 9:51 AM on Wednesday, one of Rethink Food’s restaurant partners, BrainFood, had prepared 150 meals that were delivered by 11:00 AM. The soup kitchen opened on time, and every single person received a hot meal. Over the three days, 450 hot meals were provided. “We honestly cannot thank you enough for how responsive you’ve been, helping us feed the community in an emergency in less than 24 hours. Truly amazing,” said Rebecca Smith, Divisional Director of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army.
When another plumbing crisis came up the following Monday, there was an even faster response ot delivering food again within hours. For Pastor Phil Wittenberg of the Astoria location, “This was an answer to prayer! We thank God for you and your immediate response to our crisis!”
The Power the Hunger Collective
The Hunger Collective ensures that no one goes hungry, even in times of crisis. Because of the strength of our partnerships, we confirmed proof of concept that doesn’t disrupt regular services. Our emergency response represents the agile, compassionate, and collaborative work the Hunger Collective was created to fulfill, and here’s what made our response possible:
- Established Relationships: Existing partnerships eliminated the typical barriers of new collaborations
- Clear Communication: Logistics were confirmed within hours, contacts were shared, and meals were coordinated
- Flexible Partners: Rethink Food quickly mobilized its restaurant partner network
- Shared Mission: Every organization prioritized making sure vulnerable New Yorkers didn’t go hungry
About the Hunger Collective
The Hunger Collective brings together nonprofits, food service providers, community organizations, and donors to create an efficient network that can respond quickly to food insecurity across New York City. Launched in 2025, the program offers tangible hope in three ways: we fund nonprofits with meal and food pantry programs, we mobilize volunteers to serve neighbors in need, and we have a food delivery hub that delivers both hot meals and shelf-stable items to communities.
As we expand the Hunger Collective, you can help us reach our ambitious goal of distributing 200,000 meals across our city in 2026. $10 provides approximately 5 hot meals. Your contribution will further fund meal preparation and delivery, and strengthen our capacity for emergency response. Let’s work together to make sure no New Yorker goes hungry. Learn more about how you can support.
