New York’s Food Pantry Network
Serving Religiously Appropriate and Culturally Competent Food
Met Council operates the largest kosher food pantry network in the country and a growing network of halal pantries, serving on average 200,000 people each month across the New York metro region.
We procure and distribute kosher and halal food to our network of food pantries and provide ongoing support with reporting, pantry operations, maintenance, advocacy, and programming. Met Council works with hundreds of community organizations throughout the five boroughs, Westchester, Long Island and New Jersey. We distributed over 17.2 million pounds of food in 2022.
While our network serves all those who are hungry, we specialize in the provision of emergency food that meets the cultural and religious dietary needs of food insecure kosher- and halal-observant households. Our partner pantries serve food insufficient clients regardless of race, faith, ethnicity, sexual identity, or gender.
Market by Met Council
An Online Ordering and Pantry Management Tool
With support from UJA Federation of NY and Mother Cabrini Health Foundation new technology is transforming our food pantry system.
Market by Met Council has been designed to provide a more dignified experience for our pantry guests. Developed to serve our wide-ranging and diverse clientele, pantry orders can be placed online and pick up times scheduled. Ordering online reduces time spent at a pantry and decreases waste by allowing pantry guests to select exactly the products they prefer. While considering the pantry guests’ preferences, orders are also based on the nutritional requirements mandated by New York State.
Market is currently operating at 14 pantries across New York City, and another 35 satellite sites. Learn more at https://market.metcouncil.org/
Met Council Food Policy: Advocating for Food Access for All
Met Council’s food policy team is utilizing food insecurity research and advocacy to build a local and national movement for all those who keep religiously informed diets. Our team works directly with agencies and elected officials at the city, state, and federal levels to ensure everyone has equitable access to culturally and religiously competent food programming. Email [email protected] to learn more.