SNAP – Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York

How to Get Food Help

Are you or someone you know looking for food help this holiday season?

CIDNY can help New Yorkers with disabilities connect to food pantries in your neighborhood and/or apply for long term food help.

Low income New Yorkers with disabilities can get food help through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps). Low income seniors might qualify for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) or the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).

Hunger Free America has guides to food pantries by borough available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Russian. It is best to call each location before you go to find out if they are accessible.

If you’re looking for a food box for Thanksgiving or a Thanksgiving meal, you can contact food pantries, soup kitchens, community centers, or religious organizations. A Google search for “community centers” in your neighborhood will show senior centers, settlement houses, and other community centers that may offer food boxes.

If you currently receive SNAP, you can use your EBT card at Greenmarkets to get Health Bucks. For every $5 you spend, the NYC Health Department will give you $2 in Health Bucks to use at the market. Look for the booth at the market.

If you’re looking for recipes and tips on cooking healthy food on a budget, Good and Cheap is available free online in English and Spanish.

Hands Off SNAP (again)

The House of Representatives won’t take the hint.

They Voted to Take Away SNAP and FAILED – thanks to you! Now they want to try again.

We did it once, we can do it again! Join Center for Independence of the Disabled, NY and other advocacy groups across the country for a National SNAP Call-In Day today, Wednesday, June 20th to #SaveSNAP and Defeat the House Farm Bill (Again)

Urge New York Representatives like Rep. Dan Donovan, Rep. John Faso, Rep. Elise Stefanik, and Rep. Lee Zeldin to “Vote No” on the House Farm Bill, H.R. 2, which would cut SNAP and take food off the tables of more than 2 million low-income people, including people with disabilities. The House is expected to reconsider H.R. 2 on or before June 22, after failing to pass the bill in May.

On Wednesday, June 20^th 2018 – Call 1-888-398-8702 (Toll-Free Feeding America number) or Call 202-224-3121 (U.S. Capitol Switchboard) and enter your zip code to be connected to your Representative. Urge him/her to “Vote No” on H.R. 2. Check out FRAC’s talking points and CBPP’s talking points for more information about what to say when you call.

New Yorkers, Keep Up The Pressure!

If you live in any of the districts listed below, we ask you to please call in and urge your Representative to “Vote No.” Their votes critical in ensuring that working families and children are able to keep food on their tables. We need a bipartisan bill that strengthens and protects SNAP, and what they have proposed is certainly not it! Please consider calling the district offices if you are unable to get through via the other numbers listed below.

Rep. Dan Donovan – District 11

Brooklyn District Office

7308 13th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11228

Phone: 718-630-5277

Staten Island District Office

265 New Dorp Lane, 2nd Floor

Staten Island, NY 10306

Phone: 718-351-1062

Rep. John Faso – District 19

Delhi District Office
111 Main Street
Delhi, NY 13753
Phone: (607) 746-9537

Kinderhook District Office

2 Hudson Street

Kinderhook, NY 12106

Phone: (518) 610-8133

Kingston District Office

721 Broadway

Kingston, NY 12401

Phone: (845) 514-2322

Rep. Elise Stefanik – District 21

Glens Falls Office

136 Glen Street

Glens Falls, NY 12801

Phone: (518) 743-0964

Plattsburgh Office

23 Durkee Street Suite C

Plattsburgh, NY 12901

Phone: (518) 561-2324

Watertown Office

88 Public Square Suite A

Watertown, NY 13601

Phone: (315) 782-3150

Rep. Lee Zeldin – District 1

Main District Office

31 Oak Street

Suite 20

Patchogue, NY 11772

Phone: (631) 289-1097

Remember: Today, Wednesday, June 20^th 2018 – Call 1-888-398-8702 (Toll-Free Feeding America number) or Call 202-224-3121 (U.S. Capitol Switchboard) and enter your zip code to be connected to your Representative. Urge him/her to “Vote No” on H.R. 2.

Trump Budget Proposal Cuts Funding to Independent Living and Other Vital Programs

Last week, the President released his budget proposal for FY 2019 (PDF). Unsurprisingly, the budget proposes steep cuts to the programs people with disabilities rely on, including the Independent Living Program! While it’s only a proposal, it does show us the areas we’ll have to continue fighting for. We need to make sure our voices are heard NOW before Congress begins the FY 2019 appropriations process!

First, the budget proposes cutting the Independent Living line item by $5 million.

CIDNY and other independent living centers have been asking for more funding because the program has been underfunded for years!

Also, despite promising not to cut Social Security, the proposed budget would cut $83 billion over 10 years.

The President’s budget proposal would also reduce spending on many other programs people with disabilities rely on. The HHS budget would be slashed by 21%. The Department of Education budget would be cut by 10.5%. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) would be cut by nearly 30% and restructured. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) would be defunded. Section 8 vouchers would be cut by nearly $1 billion; and more major funding cuts and changes to housing, education, and other important programs are proposed.

While this budget is terrible, Congress will likely not include many of these proposals in their appropriations bills. That said, it is still important that our members of Congress hear from us! We need to fight against any cuts that will negatively impact the Independent Living Program and people with disabilities.

Talk with your Senators and Representative and urge them not to accept Trump’s cuts to Independent Living. Talk to them about the value of Independent Living. Have them visit us! And make sure they know how important the programs we rely on are to their disabled constituents because more changes are on the way.

We need to reach Meeks, Meng, Velasquez, Jeffries, Clarke, Nadler, Donovan, Maloney, Espillat, Crowley, Serrano, and Engels. Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or (202) 224-3091 (TTY) to be connected. Direct office contact information can be found at Contacting Congress. Can’t call? You can also text RESIST to 50409 or contact elected officials online. Take action today!

Get Food Help

Are you or someone you know looking for food help this holiday season?

CIDNY can help New Yorkers with disabilities connect to food pantries in your neighborhood and/or apply for long term food help.

Hunger Free America has guides to food pantries by borough available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Russian. It is best to call each location before you go to find out if they are accessible.

If you’re looking for a food box for Thanksgiving or a Thanksgiving meal, you can contact food pantries, soup kitchens, community centers, churches, or see the list below. A Google search for “community centers” in your neighborhood will show senior centers, settlement houses, and other community centers that may offer food boxes.

If you’re looking for recipes and tips on cooking healthy food on a budget, Good and Cheap is available free online.

Turkey Distributions 2017

1. HARLEM — Fresh Direct is giving away 150 turkeys at Drew Hamilton Houses Thursday. The supermarket chain will give the turkeys away at 6 p.m. and invites people from the NYCHA development to pick up a bird at the Drew Hamilton Community Center at 220 W. 143rd St.
2. The Harlem YMCA is also distributing turkeys from their building on 135th Street. Those interested in receiving one can visit the YMCA and sign up. The giveaway will be Nov. 24 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
3. On Sunday, the restaurant BTH on 712 W. 125th St. will be giving away about 100 turkeys on a first-come-first serve basis starting at noon.
4. Thanksgiving Turkey Distribution. Joseph P. Kennedy Center at 34 West 134th St on Tuesday, November 21, 8:30am – 1:30pm EST.

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate!