Access to nutritious food is a fundamental need, yet food insecurity remains a challenge for many people in our community. At The Fortune Society, the Food and Nutrition program is dedicated to addressing this issue by providing regular hot meals along with fresh produce and essential staples at our food pantries.   

Earlier this year, we opened a new food pantry at the Long Island City (LIC) service center, stocked with fresh produce and shelf-stable goods for participants. After opening a food pantry at Fortune’s Supervised Release Program (SRP) office in the Bronx in 2023, the Food and Nutrition program is thrilled to have now expanded its reach in the community. 

The SRP food pantry quickly became a staple for the Fortune community in the Bronx. Open on Wednesdays and Thursdays, it is regularly used by residents of Mandaela and SRP participants. Each week, the pantry serves dozens of people, ensuring they have access to nutritious foods and shelf-stable ingredients.

Andrew, Food Access & Nutrition Services Manager at Fortune, shared that after the success of the SRP pantry, he was excited to bring these essential services to LIC.

The new LIC food pantry is open to participants on Mondays and uses the same online ordering system as the SRP pantry. Participants order their desired items in advance and arrive at the pantry each week to receive a prepared bag of food. Sho, a participant at Fortune, regularly utilizes the food pantry. To order items from the pantry, he receives support from staff to navigate the online ordering process.   

“They make it easy to make orders,” Sho, a Fortune participant, explained. “For people who are not familiar with computers, there is a computer lab and staff members, like Milo, who can help people place their orders.”  

For participants at Fortune’s LIC service center, the food pantry has become an invaluable resource. After finishing their daily programming, participants like Sho can conveniently stop by the pantry to pick up nutritious food items before leaving for the day. He shared that the LIC pantry offers a variety of shelf-stable goods, including jams, sardines, tuna, and other canned vegetables. 

Andrew explained that, since opening the food pantry at LIC, there is a clear distinction between the needs of both pantry locations.  

“We found in the Bronx people are more interested in a bunch of different types of fresh produce,” Andrew said. “But at LIC, a lot of people are unhoused, or they don’t have a place to cook, so they’re looking for more ready-to-eat items like boxed food and canned goods.” 

Fortune also partners with Food Bank NYC each month to host a mobile food pantry in the South Bronx, providing people with meat, fresh produce, canned goods and essential personal care items.

As a further expansion of our pantry work, this past October, a new weekly food distribution for the Long Island City community began, offering seasonal, fresh produce and shelf-stable items, also available to pantry participants.

The Fortune Society’s expansion of our Food and Nutrition program demonstrates a deep commitment to addressing food insecurity in the community. We aim to provide as many participants as possible with access to nutritious food regardless of their circumstances.