Dear MCNY Community,
At Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY), we see every day how determination and resilience can change lives. More than 40 percent of our Scholars live below the poverty line while balancing work, family, and education. They show up, they give their all, and they push forward. But when programs like SNAP are frozen, the impact is immediate and deeply felt.
The suspension of SNAP funding is not just a policy matter. It’s about families skipping meals, students going hungry, and communities under new strain. Hunger has no place in a city as resourceful and compassionate as New York.
Through our campus food pantries in Manhattan and the Bronx, MCNY provides groceries and essential items to approximately 225 or more families each month. This is one-fourth of MCNY’s total student population. For many, these services help fill the gap between paychecks. Without them, students face impossible choices—whether to spend what little they have on a MetroCard to get to class or work, or on groceries to feed themselves and their families.
MCNY will continue to step up by expanding pantry access, strengthening local partnerships, and ensuring that every Scholar who needs support receives it. On November 18, our Bronx Campus will host a Holiday Pantry event, offering food and essentials to Scholars first, and then opening the doors to the surrounding community. This is one small way we live our mission and support our neighbors through action.
We are urging our leaders to restore SNAP funding immediately, and we are asking our friends, partners, and alumni to stand with us.
Purpose-Centered Education is more than what we teach. It is how we live, through service, compassion, and a shared commitment to others. Together, we can make sure no one is left hungry while trying to build a future.
Together…We Rise!
With care and conviction,
Dr. Charles J. Gibbs
President
Metropolitan College of New York
Here’s how you can help:
DONATE : Support MCNY’s campus food pantries or your neighborhood food program. Visit mcny.edu/give
VOLUNTEER: Lend time at a pantry in your community. Visit FoodFinder.us
ADVOCATE: Contact your representatives and share why SNAP matters. Find your local Council Member or your Congressional Representative.
Together, We Can Make Sure No One Goes Hungry!
If you or someone you know is in need of immediate food or financial support, these resources can help:
Bronx Resources
POTS
Part of the Solution
2759 Webster Avenue, Bronx, NY 10458
Daily meals, groceries, legal services, and case management for families in need.
BronxWorks
Multiple locations providing food assistance, housing support and workforce development.
Manhattan Resources
New York Common Pantry
8 East 109th Street, New York, NY 10029
Pantry bags, hot meals, and SNAP enrollment assistance.
West Side Campaign Against Hunger
263 West 86th Street, New York, NY 10024
Fresh food and access to social services.
Citywide Assistance
NYC Area Food Map (Food Bank for New York City)
Search for food pantries, community kitchens, and SNAP enrollment sites across the five boroughs.
Cash and Emergency Assistance (ACCESS NYC)
Find information on cash assistance, rent help, and emergency benefits available to New Yorkers.
Together…We Rise!
Support the “Together We Rise” campaign, which is dedicated to providing scholarships and comprehensive support for students as they navigate their academic journeys.
