Bronx Food Pantry Struggles To Meet Surging Demand Amid Food Shortage

In the heart of Pelham Parkway, the Albanian American Open Hand Association, a Bronx food pantry, is grappling with an unprecedented challenge as its shelves have remained bare for the past two weeks.

The New York Post reports in the heart of Pelham Parkway, the Albanian American Open Hand Association (AAOHA), a Bronx food pantry, is grappling with an unprecedented challenge as its shelves have remained bare for the past two weeks, exacerbating food insecurity for New Yorkers at the outset of the New Year. Before the pandemic, AAOHA provided sustenance for approximately 800 individuals weekly, which has since doubled to 1,600, according to the outlet. However, for the first time in a decade, the pantry finds itself compelled to turn people away, leaving a stark reminder of the heightened food crisis in the region.

Bronx residents have been lining up outside AAOHA on Thursdays and Fridays, days earmarked for food distribution, hoping to secure a vital lifeline. Food pantry President Alexander Nilaj, residing two blocks from the pantry, shared the disheartening reality of having to turn away patrons who persistently wait from dawn until dusk, yearning for a “miracle” in the form of a delayed food shipment. Nilaj describes the situation as “very heartbreaking” and emphasizes its firm message to those in line: “Don’t wait; we have no food today.”

In response to the dire circumstances, New York Congressman Ritchie Torres has offered support by wiring $5,000 to AAOHA. This contribution is expected to provide enough food for over 1,200 people during the upcoming Thursday and Friday distributions. Torres acknowledged the urgency of the situation, stating, “Upon finding out that a Bronx food pantry no longer had food for the first time in a decade, I contributed, via my campaign, $5,000 to the food pantry’s sponsor.”

However, the future remains uncertain for AAOHA. Nilaj, expressing gratitude for the immediate assistance, notes that they have always managed to have some food before, but he wonders about sustaining their operations beyond the immediate influx of support. As a privately owned business, AAOHA receives no state or city funding and relies heavily on donations, local business support, and the dedication of 30 volunteers assisting Nilaj in food distribution.

The food pantry, known for serving families, single mothers, and vulnerable populations across the five boroughs, faces an overwhelming demand exacerbated by job losses and increasing living costs. Nilaj, an Albanian immigrant who has lived in the U.S. for 18 years, has seen the shelves dwindling since Christmas, forcing him to turn away hundreds in need. He is now appealing for donations and seeking assistance from state and city governments to ensure AAOHA can continue its mission of providing sustenance to hungry New Yorkers.

As Nilaj focuses on securing enough food for the upcoming distribution, he remains hopeful that the community will rally together to support the pantry and prevent any New Yorker from being turned away in their time of need.