Resources
Resource sharing is the cornerstone of CIPHER’s mission. Below you can find a list of websites and resources vetted and compiled by our students. If you have any additional resources or opportunities you’d like to share with our team, please feel free to submit them in the form provided at the bottom of this page.
Map of Food Pantries
The Get Food NYC map locates spots that offer free food (food pantries and Grab & Go meals at NYC schools) as well as grocery stores and farmer’s markets (Greenmarkets/Farmstand/Fresh Food Box, DYCD Cornerstone Center, etc.).
Shop Healthy NYC! Program
The Shop Healthy NYC Program works to increase access to healthy food by encouraging local food retailers to provide more healthy offerings. Their site provides information and resources for nutrition services as well as ways to get involved.
Food Bank for NYC
Food Bank for NYC has compiled listings and locations of free food, soup kitchens, and free meal services, most of which are still open and operating on a grab-n-go basis. The “Find Help” button on the site leads to resources for applying for SNAP, meals, and services specifically for the Harlem area and for LGBTQ+ initiatives. Check out the recent COVID changes to SNAP applications and download the HRA app.
USDA Food & Nutrition Services: SNAP Eligibility
The USDA details their most FAQ regarding SNAP benefits and eligibility. The site provides answers to questions like: Who is eligible and when are they able to apply? What do legal terms like resources mean in the context of SNAP?
NYC Department of Education: Free Meals
The New York City Department of Education is making free meals available daily for any New Yorker at more than 400 Meal Hubs. The site linked below has made available a list of these hubs - meals are typically grab-n-go to prevent the spread of COVID19, and Halal and Kosher options are available.
NYC Human Resources: SNAP Benefits
This NYC specific guide to SNAP during the time of COVID-19 includes downloadable resources in a multitude of languages for eligibility criteria and information on expedited claims/benefits, re-certification, a guide to grocery shopping online with SNAP, and a guide to health bucks at farmers markets.
Free Food NYC
A community-run instagram account about the locations and stocking schedules of community fridges and where to find food donation programs on any given day of the week. The account is a good centralized source of information - links lead viewers to local food distributors in their area and location-specific service information.
The Corbin Hill Food Project
The Corbin Hill Food Project is devoted to distributing farm-fresh and nutrient dense food to underserved communities in NYC. Website visitors can sign up and choose to pay with their SNAP/EBT benefits. The project is designed to fulfill the supply chain gaps inherent in some low income urban communities.
SNAP4CT: Recipe Database
SNAP4CT is a Connecticut-based website that houses a database of affordable, delicious, and health recipes that can be made from ingredients purchased through SNAP. Search filters include kid-friendly, heart-healthy, vegetarian, and other various dietary factors.
Con Edison: Help Paying Your Bill
Con-Edison provides assistance in energy cost for those who are signed up to receive SNAP benefits. Most are enrolled automatically but some may need to follow the steps laid out on this website in order to enroll themselves in the discounted program.
Are we missing an important resource?
We’d like to know! Don’t hesitate - submit your resource, questions, or concerns in our contact form provided here. Your name is optional. We’d love to hear from you!