Yorkville Common Pantry "Fill the Bag Benefit" to Honor Lauren Bush Lauren - March 7th in New York City

New York, NY (PRWEB) March 04, 2013

Yorkville Common Pantry (YCP), New York City’s largest single-site community based food pantry, will celebrate its rapid and citywide growth as the city’s most innovative and dynamic emergency food provider at its Fill the Bag Benefit on March 7 in Manhattan. During the event, YCP, which offers meals and support services to more than 29,000 individuals and is projected to provide 2.3 million meals in 2013, will make a special – and historic – announcement related to the organization’s growth and expansion. YCP will also award the Community Partner Award to Lauren Bush Lauren, CEO, Creative Director and Co-Founder of FEED Projects, a charitable company with the mission to create good products that help feed the world.

Steven Jenkins and Lori J. Levy will also accept the Community Partner Award on behalf of Fairway Market for their role in YCP’s food-rescue efforts and their response to Superstorm Sandy. The Founders Award will be presented to Karen Altfest of Altfest Personal Wealth Management who helped to start YCP in 1979. Maurice DeBois, WCBS-TV News anchor, will serve as Master of Ceremonies, and the night will also feature a live auction led by Auctioneer Karl Green of Bonhams in New York.

“Since we began, YCP has been dedicated to supporting New Yorkers in need through a wide variety of services, and none of our successes would be possible without our partners and supporters,” said Wendy Stein, chair of Yorkville Common Pantry. “We’re thrilled to honor this year’s awardees and celebrate YCP’s amazing and gratifying growth as we look forward to continuing to serve as a bridge back to health, well-being and self-sufficiency for our homeless and hungry clients.”

“YCP is more than just a food pantry. We provide a 360-degree, holistic support to our clients, designed to meet the most basic needs of food and shelter as well as larger, more challenging issues they face like healthcare and employment,” said Stephen Grimaldi, executive director of Yorkville Common Pantry. “As we have evolved, our reach and impact in the City have dramatically grown over the years, and we’re excited to share a major announcement related to our work during the Fill the Bag Benefit.”

Since opening in 1980 as a small neighborhood pantry serving 30 families, YCP has undertaken a multitude of new initiatives that help make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers across the five boroughs. While the programs have expanded beyond Yorkville and become truly citywide over the past 30 years, YCP's mission to reduce hunger and promote dignity and self-sufficiency has remained constant. YCP also plays a critical role in emergency response. In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, YCP has distributed over 80,000 meals to date. In addition, YCP's dedication to innovation and collaboration in order to better serve the community’s needs has defined its unique standing among other food programs in New York City.

The Fill the Bag Benefit will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails and a Silent Auction featuring unique items. For tickets or more information contact, Kelly Barkley, 917-720-9717, kbarkley(at)ycp(dot)org.

Yorkville Common Pantry is dedicated to reducing hunger while promoting dignity and self-sufficiency. YCP offers meals, food packages, and support services to more than 29,000 New Yorkers each year.

Media Contacts:

Brittnie Mabry, brittnie(at)philandcompany(dot)com, 646.490.6446

Sara Lieber, sara(at)philandcompany(dot)com, 646.490.6446

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