Hunger is a hidden problem.
In New York City, 2 in 5 families have to choose between buying groceries and paying for rent, transportation, or utilities.
Hard to believe, isn’t it? That’s because hunger looks like all of us:
Hunger is a new immigrant family without a social support network.
Hunger is a senior citizen who has lived on the Upper East Side their whole life.
Hunger is a college student who doesn’t have enough money to last the whole semester.
Hunger is a single parent with a good job, but whose paycheck goes mostly to rent.
Around here, hunger might be hidden—but it’s a real problem. Together with you, our partners and generous donors, we’re going to end the hunger gap in East Harlem and the Upper East Side.
The Urban Outreach Center was founded in 1990 as the Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Program.
In 2014, we became the Urban Outreach Center, recognizing that the breadth of vulnerability extends beyond homelessness alone, when, between 2014 and 2018, 50% of New Yorkers experienced poverty.
Since opening our doors to provide social services to the most vulnerable populations of New York City, we now directly serve over 65,000 people each year and reach countless more, representing the full demographic and cultural diversity of guests from all 5 boroughs and New Jersey.
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Healthy food is a basic need.
So is dignity.
There's no "Take a number."
We know our Guests by name.
There's no "Prove it."
If someone says they need food, we believe them.
There's no "You get what you get."
Our Guests make their own choices — replicating the shopping experiences that often get taken for granted.
There's no "Get in line."
By booking an appointment, our Guests know exactly when to arrive and how long they’ll be here.
There's no “shame.”
We know that 2 in 5 NYC families struggle to provide basic resources. We believe that the sooner we join together, the sooner we can work to create more justice-centered systems for all New Yorkers.
Looking for volunteer opportunities in NYC?
Get connected with the ways that you can use community service to transform the life of a vulnerable New Yorker today.
Whether you have a free hour or can dedicate a regular day to volunteering, we have dozens of opportunities each week for our neighbors to find a place near them to help serve and feed our homeless and low-income guests through our food pantry and soup kitchen, while creating environments of dignity and hospitality that the Urban Outreach Center is known for.
We welcome corporate service days, school and community groups, senior centers, and religious organizations to join us in the movement to end the hunger gap in East Harlem and the Upper East Side.
Together, we can create lasting change.
