(PIX11) — New Yorkers flocked to grocery stores in the hours before a wicked winter storm rolled through, wiping out bread shelves and snatching up gallons of milk.
But after the blizzard that wasn’t, those same stockpiling New Yorkers who spilled onto the sidewalk in line for Trader Joe’s were free to leave their homes and resume their lives some 24 hours later. Which means there are lots of extra food in city refrigerators and pantries that may go to waste.
That’s where Kristine Michelsen-Correa comes in.
She created blizzardleftovers.com to let New Yorkers know there’s a better way to use those five loaves of bread and 12 cans of beans: donate them to food pantries.
“I woke on Tuesday morning, and I realized that there was just too much leftover,” Michelsen-Correa said.
Michelsen-Correa wanted to do something. She wanted to help.
“Really the idea is about bringing awareness to the needs of food pantries in New York,” Michelsen-Correa said of her site.
Less fortunate New Yorkers visit city food pantries, like the New York City Rescue Mission (which is a homeless shelter and soup kitchen), for help every day, not just during storms. But on Wednesday night, with several inches of snow still piled up on the sidewalks, the mission was packed.
New Yorkers who would like to donate excess food they bought ahead of the storm can call 311 to find a pantry in their neighborhood, according to a spokesperson for the agency. Callers will be connected to NYC Service which handles donations.
Food Bank For New York City will take large donations of shelf-stable food (100 lbs or more), according to a spokesperson for the food bank.
For all other donations — as long as the food is wholesome, edible, and uncooked — please contact your local soup kitchen or food pantry in your community. For a list of soup kitchens and food pantries nearest you, visit foodbanknyc.org and click on the food locator directory.
