The city is launching a first-of-its-kind Bronx food pantry for families embroiled in the child welfare system.
The pantry, stocked by the Food Bank For New York City, is giving out food supplies at the Administration for Children’s Services division of child protection office.
Families are more likely to get cited for neglect or lose custody of their kids if they don’t provide the food kids need, especially if they’re already being investigated for other offenses.
“For families who are struggling to provide meals for their children, it can become very difficult,” said Food Bank Vice President Camesha Grant.
“Their children are at risk of being taken out of the home and potentially placed into a foster home,” she said. “It may not be the only thing, but it certainly becomes a factor, and an important one if it is deemed you’re unable to provide the basic necessity of food.”
The pantry opened with limited supplies in June, and will be fully operational starting with a grand opening Tuesday.
It has already distributed 32,287 pounds of food to 950 families with 2,400 children.
Parents who have to go to the ACS office for meetings with caseworkers or supervised visits can get a referral to visit the food pantry for free food to take home.
“We know that the parents we work with want to provide all the things their children need, but they often have challenges,” said ACS deputy commissioner Lorelei Vargas.
“We know how important nutritious food is during development,” she said. “They can get food on the spot with us.”
Eventually, ACS hopes to open pantries at its offices in all five boroughs, with another one coming in summer 2018.
The Bronx pantry will also offer cooking and nutrition classes.
