Montefiore Health System’s Project Bravo Food Pantry, a community-based, hospital-driven initiative designed to combat food insecurity for high-risk individuals and families, serves thousands of Bronx residents nutritious meals each week.

 

During these unprecedented times, many in our community have faced additional challenges accessing nutritious meals due to school closures. Food insecurity has grown for so many and Project Bravo has seen a wave of new clients.

 

To ensure everyone still has access to food in as safe an environment as possible, we have adapted the food pantry to the new normal by implementing social distancing rules. With the help of our surrounding neighbors, we are able to separate individuals and household groups, and maintain a six-foot distance between them.

 

Additionally, by letting only four clients into the pantry at a time, we are able to appropriately separate people while they are inside getting their food packages.

 

In addition to helping provide meals to clients, we have also adapted to provide additional support to their needs during this time.

 

• We provide free medical grade protective masks to our staff and the community for use during food pick up.
• We have fully educated our staff on safe food transfer methods.
• We have partnered with the Corona Couriers and Invisible Hands organizations to provide emergency food delivery to our elderly and at-risk populations
• We are distributing baby and toddler items, toys, and educational resources for healthy eating including recipes for fun and inexpensive home-cooked meals.

 

On the days our pantry is closed for deliveries or meal distribution, we remain on-site cleaning and sanitizing all boxed packaging.

 

The Montefiore Project Bravo pantry does not turn away anyone who comes to our door.

 

If you are currently facing food insecurity, please visit us on Monday and Friday from midday to 2:00 p.m. or on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to midday at 3058 Bainbridge Avenue. If you are at-risk of infection or elderly, and cannot physically visit the pantry, please call 347-949-0636 to request a food delivery.

 

Chelsea Andrews is the social media specialist & outreach representative at Montefiore Prevention Program & Project Bravo Food Pantry.