West Side Campaign Against Hunger

Dear Friends,
As I write this, New York City is at the center of a world
financial crisis. Workers are being laid off from Wall
Street to Madison Avenue. Government is forced to spend
billions to bail out banks and insurance companies.
Who is helping the hungry?
In 2007 we served an average of 135 households a day. Now it’s 200.
WSCAH is seeing a 60% increase in first-time customers
over a year ago.
In 2007 we provided food for an average of 3000 meals a day. Now it’s 4000.
We are facing extraordinary times—need is increasing and funding for emergency food programs is
threatened.
Yes, a time like this is frightening, but it also provides an opportunity to develop new solutions.
WSCAH is involved in the development of new policies to overcome hunger, to eliminate “food
deserts”, to bring local farm produce to cities, and to increase physical exercise and eliminate obesity.
It is vital that West Side Campaign Against Hunger remains a warm and welcoming place that has
sufficient food to meet the increasing need and does not turn people away. Most of our customers are
families with children (53%), the elderly (16%), and working people (26%) whose earned income is
insufficient to meet their basic needs.
Yet even in these tough times, our strength-based organization has much to be proud of, and
grateful for:
Our customers continue to volunteer to run the store. They bring in deliveries, stock shelves,
staff the check-out counter, and break down boxes to serve nearly 200 customers a day.
Our social service staff meets with all new families and helps resolve the problems of those
who are having difficulty.
The partnerships we have developed with social service agencies allow us to refer our customers
for food stamps, health insurance, housing, child care, and educational or employment needs.
Eleven agencies provide their services on site at WSCAH, making it easier for families
to gain their service.
Most of all I am grateful to those who support WSCAH and help us grow and innovate. Without
your support we would not be able to meet the increasing challenge. With your help, we
will create a better future.
Doreen Wohl
Executive Director
years of fighting 30 hunger 1979-2009
Letter from the Executive Director