Doug Silver Leads the Fight Against Food Insecurity with Gotham Food Pantry
Food insecurity is a widespread issue affecting both developed and developing countries. When nutrient-rich food supplies are scarce or economically inaccessible, food scarcity arises. Contributing factors include poverty, population growth, crop failures, water shortages, climate change, and conflicts. Even in developed nations like ours, the lack of proper nutrition significantly impacts health, life expectancy, and education. It's essential for journalists to continue highlighting this critical global issue and to raise awareness about efforts by accredited organizations like Gotham Food Pantry within every community.
Today I will highlight the work of a dear friend of mine, Doug Silver, who has grown his nonprofit to support more and more people in need every year, rescuing viable food from suppliers that would normally be thrown away. The following is an interview I conducted about his work with Gotham Food Pantry.
What is Gotham Food Pantry?
Gotham Food Pantry volunteers (Photo by Gotham Food Pantry)
Gotham Food Pantry is a nonprofit that advances food justice by establishing food rescue operations in marginalized communities, with a focus on low-income public housing complexes throughout New York City, where 3 in 5 residents identify as food insecure. We partner with resident leaders and other community stakeholders to rescue excess food from businesses that would otherwise throw it away, and distribute that food to the people who need it most.
When did you first get involved with Gotham and what is your current role within the organization?
I founded Gotham Food Pantry in 2020 in response to the unprecedented spike in food insecurity in marginalized communities brought about by COVID-19. I currently serve as the Executive Director, where I oversee all operations, from food rescue and distribution to advocacy and community partnerships to fundraising and development.
Have you worked or volunteered with food pantries in the past?
Since 2017, I have volunteered with an incredible soup kitchen called Monday Night Hospitality (MNH). When COVID hit, many soup kitchens throughout NYC suspended service. MNH stayed open and strove to meet the need. Since its founding almost 45 years ago, MNH has not missed a single Monday of serving hot meals with dignity. My hands-on experience with MNH was crucial in understanding the logistics of food distribution and the profound impact that access to nutritious food has on individuals and communities. Now I operate Gotham alongside Monday Night Hospitality every Monday night at All Souls Church on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
What drew you to this particular type of community outreach? Why food insecurity specifically?
I have two answers to this.
The first: Food insecurity is a fundamental issue that intersects with various aspects of life—health, education, economic stability, and mental well-being. I was drawn to this work because food is a basic human right, and addressing food insecurity allows us to tackle multiple social issues simultaneously. The urgency of the problem, especially in under-resourced communities, motivated me to focus on this cause.
The second (and more practical): In my other life, I am a writer and developmental editor. When COVID-19 took hold, six-months-worth of work evaporated in days. I found myself with a lot of time and a need to do something more than sit at my desk, embedded in fictional worlds.
What is a typical day like when you are working in terms of tasks, hours, location, traveling, etc.?
A typical day at Gotham starts early, coordinating with food donors, transport partners, and food recipient sites to ensure that pickups and deliveries run smoothly. I visit various public housing complexes to meet with community leaders and assess needs on the ground. My day can include meetings with partners, grantmakers, outreach to prospective food and financial donors—all with an eye toward a fortifying and expanding Gotham's system that intends to make food justice a way of life throughout New York City.
What have you found in common with the people who work and volunteer with Gotham? Any stories about why they decided to also help?
One common thread among Gotham's volunteers is a deep commitment to social justice and a desire to make a tangible difference in their communities. Many volunteers have experienced food insecurity or have witnessed its effects on loved ones. Recently, we began a partnership with the NYPD that was spearheaded by an officer whose upbringing was marred by food insecurity. Now a team of officers assist us in rescuing excess food and bringing it to shelters and houses of worship.
What are some of the challenges in the workplace? Safety issues, difficulties with obtaining and dispersing the food?
Food insecurity in the United States has nothing to do with scarcity. It has to do with logistics and apathy. Ensuring that perishable items are transported quickly and safely is by far our single greatest expense. Food safety is always top of mind; we adhere to all regulations and also distribute all food within two hours of pickup.
In regard to apathy, most businesses are still choosing to send their nutritious food to landfills rather than donate it to people in need. This is despite the fact that, thanks to two federal laws, there is no liability to businesses that make good-faith food donations to nonprofits or individuals. We encourage those committed to food justice to ask the businesses they patronize and corporate cafeterias they eat in if they have a designated food donation partner. If they don't, please encourage them to donate and let us know at info@gothamfoodpantry.org.
Raising funds takes a lot of work: How do you maintain your current grants and what are the main ways you are able to find new supporters?
Fundraising is a constant challenge. We constantly apply for grants and also solicit donations from individuals and corporate giving departments. There are countless amazing organizations working to better the world, and far more need than money to support it. Garnering the necessary support is difficult and something I think about daily. Gotham has been fortunate to receive several grants that have empowered us to expand our operations and secure food for more New Yorkers.
Maintaining current grants requires constant communication with our funders, providing them with detailed reports on how their contributions are making an impact. To find new supporters, we rely on a mix of grant writing, fundraising events, and building relationships with local businesses and philanthropists who share our vision for a more equitable food system.
What are Gotham’s goals in the near and not-so-near future?
Gotham envisions an NYC where food security is a way of life. Each day, we work to realize that vision. In the near future, we aim to expand our food rescue operations to more low-income public housing complexes. We're also developing a learning and development module to teach tenant associations and other community partners to build and sustain their own food rescue operations.
While we will be implementing this program throughout New York City, we believe our system can be replicated in cities across the country. Long-term, we seek to influence policy changes that will make food security a priority in urban planning and social services, and require all food retailers and manufacturers to donate excess food to those in need. Like I said, our ultimate goal is to live in a New York City (and world) where food insecurity has been eradicated and future generations cannot believe it ever existed.
For more information: https://gothamfoodpantry.org/