Food Security Program
Designated by the New York City Department of Social Services as an official Emergency Food Relief Organization (EFRO) since 2017, Vision Urbana continues to serve as a vital lifeline for food-insecure residents of the Lower East Side. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, our program rapidly scaled to support over 2,000 households weekly through a multifaceted approach—including home deliveries, onsite food pick-ups, and weekly fresh produce distributions.
Operating across 12 New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments and low-income housing sites—including Casa Victoria and Section 202 senior buildings—our outreach spans a densely populated 1.8-mile radius, home to over 180,000 residents. This area, already burdened by a high concentration of public housing, rising food costs, and significant health disparities, continues to face critical food insecurity challenges today. Vision Urbana remains a dependable source of free, nutritious, and culturally relevant groceries for families, seniors, and individuals in need.
Strategic Food Bank Partnerships
Vision Urbana is proud to be the only food pantry on the Lower East Side affiliated with all three major food relief networks in New York City: The Food Bank for NYC, United Way of NYC, and City Harvest. Through these partnerships, along with support from Trinity Church Wall Street and the Hispanic Federation, we provide consistent access to high-quality, culturally responsive food that reflects the diverse communities we serve.
NYCHA Healthy Food Distribution Network
In response to increased need during the pandemic, Vision Urbana founded the NYCHA Healthy Food Distribution Network, collaborating directly with Tenant Associations to identify needs, mobilize volunteers, and distribute fresh produce weekly. This network serves as both a distribution system and an information hub—delivering not only meals, but also vital nutrition education and local resource connections to thousands of residents.
To support our logistics, Vision Urbana operates a 14-foot box truck with liftgate, enabling large-scale weekly deliveries. This infrastructure allows us to move and distribute approximately one million pounds of food annually throughout the Lower East Side community.
Vision Urbana