In June 2023, The Fortune Society opened the Fortune Fresh Food Pantry to respond to growing food insecurity in the Bronx. Located at our Supervised Release Program (SRP) office, the pantry is open to all Fortune participants and primarily serves those in nearby communities at Mandaela and Freedom House Bronx. 

Earlier this year, the New York State Department of Health released a report on food insecurity among adults in NY state. As of January 2024, the percentage of adults who experience food insecurity is highest in the Bronx at 39 percent, compared to 22.1 percent in Richmond County, the lowest rate in the state. The Fortune Fresh Food Pantry intends to address this gap in our community by providing shelf-stable food to Fortune participants who face considerable barriers to food access.  

Each week, the pantry serves about one hundred participants, providing shelf-stable items and seasonal produce from Hudson Harvest, a food aggregator from New York State that distributes produce from local farms. Participants can expect staples like bread, rice, canned goods and pasta. Supplemented with fresh produce, participants receive nutritious foods to promote healthy eating and wellness. 

Andrew, the Food Access and Nutrition Services Manager, works closely with participants to streamline their experience at the food pantry. Since opening last year, the food pantry has adapted to serve the community’s needs best.

Food distribution days at the pantry are Wednesdays and Thursdays each week. Before arriving for pick up, participants pre-select their items through an online storefront. They can choose a time to pick up their items on either of the distribution days. 

Over a year after opening, the Fortune Fresh Food Pantry has become indispensable to the Fortune community. Many individuals who utilize the pantry stop by each week and have developed positive relationships with staff and volunteers.  

“We have a ton of regulars each week, and we are also signing people up almost every day,” Andrew said. “While we are limited in the number of people we can serve each week, we hope to grow and open pantries in other locations. We are focused on how to best serve the people coming to us.”

Eloise, a former Fortune volunteer, shared that working closely with participants in the food pantry has helped her better understand the needs of Fortune’s population. She has enjoyed getting to know the community through volunteering, and working at the food pantry allows her to learn more about the challenges faced by our community and how our organization aims to address them.