January 2019 — Our Advocacy & Food Pantry program is kicking off the new year with resources that focus on financial health.  These resources are available through our partnerships with Food Bank for NYC and the Legal Aid Society.  Together, we’re helping people who visit our pantries move toward financial stability and self-sufficiency.

Financial Literacy Workshop & Employment Legal Clinic

On Jan. 18th we hosted a financial literacy workshop on financial goals.  The workshop was sponsored by Food Bank for NYC and led by our client advocate, Maritza Jimenez (in the photo above).

We also hosted an Employment law clinic with Legal Aid Society.  Lawyers were on hand to provide information pertaining to issues such as unpaid wages, minimum wage and overtime claims, discrimination–including discrimination based on criminal record, family and medical leave, and unemployment insurance benefits.

VITA – Tax  Preparation

With tax season at hand, we will once again start helping individuals with tax preparation, through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, offered through the Food Bank for NYC.  We will be able to offer free tax return preparation help for people making $54,000 or less.  This program will start mid-February.

Financial Empowerment Center

We’ve been scheduling appointments for people to receive free one-on-one financial counseling at the city’s Financial Empowerment Center.  Counselors offer help with debt management, credit, creating a budget, opening a bank account, starting an emergency fund, saving for the future and more.  These referrals are being offered in partnership with Food Bank for NYC.