THE RIVER FUND NEW YORK INC

TODAY RIVER FUND STANDS AS A FRONTLINE POVERTY CENTER IN OUR RESPONSE TO THE DEVASTATION OF THOSE LIVING ON THE LINES OF POVERTY. FULFILLING ITS GOAL TO BE A RESOURCE TO THOSE AT-RISK, OVER THE PAST THREE PLUS DECADES THE RIVER FUND HAS GROWN TO BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST PROVIDERS OF EMERGENCY FOOD IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, DELIVERING WELL OVER 1 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS, INCLUDING CLOTHING, SHOES, PET FOOD, AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS TO THE COMMUNITY EACH MONTH THROUGH ITS EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAMS.THE PROVISION OF NUTRITIOUS, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE WEEKLY GROCERIES VIA A WALK-THROUGH, CLIENT CHOICE PANTRY AT THE ORGANIZATION'S HEADQUARTERS IN RICHMOND HILL, QUEENS. OPERATING FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS, THIS PANTRY CURRENTLY DISTRIBUTES FOOD TWO DAYS EACH WEEK, WEDNESDAY, DEDICATED TO SENIORS AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS, AND SATURDAY, TO OVER 3,000 FAMILIES. EVERY WEEK, RIVER FUND PROVIDES GROCERIES AND ESSENTIALS TO A DIVERSE POPULATION OF FOOD, INSECURE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. IT ALSO OPERATES AN ARRAY OF EMERGENCY FOOD EFFORTS EXTENDING WELL BEYOND ITS HOME BASE. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE VERY FIRST MOBILE PANTRY IN THE COUNTRY, SERVING NEIGHBORHOODS WITH LIMITED EMERGENCY FOOD INFRASTRUCTURE; THE HUB & SPOKE PROGRAM, DELIVERING FOOD TO LOCAL COMMUNITY PANTRIES IN QUEENS AND BROOKLYN; AND THE HOMEBOUND INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM, SUPPORTING ELDERLY AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH BI-WEEKLY DELIVERIES OF GROCERIES AND OTHER ESSENTIALS. RIVER FUND IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT MORE THAN A THIRD OF ALL THE FOOD IT PROVIDES TO THE COMMUNITY WILL BE IN THE FORM OF FRESH PRODUCE.

THE RIVER FUND, BENEFITS ACCESS CENTER IN HELPING FAMILIES IN DISTRESS MEET THEIR NEEDS. SERVING ABOUT FIFTEEN HUNDRED FAMILIES ANNUALLY, RIVER FUND'S BENEFITS ACCESS CENTER PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SERVICES THROUGH A PROACTIVE, FLEXIBLE, AND SENSITIVE APPROACH DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY NEEDS BEYOND THOSE BEING EXPRESSED. THE GOAL IS TO PROMOTE EVERY FAMILY'S CAPACITY TO ADDRESS THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO ITS IMMEDIATE AND LONGER-TERM NEEDS, AS WELL AS TO TAKE STEPS TO AMELIORATE THE EFFECTS OF CHRONIC POVERTY.BENEFITS ACCESS AGENTS HAVE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING COUNSELING, HELP WITH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT, ADVOCACY WITH ACCESSING SERVICES AND ADVICE. THROUGH ITS DETAILED CLIENT-INTAKE PROCESS AND THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, STAFF CAN REFER CLIENTS TO MORE THAN 40 SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS RANGING FROM SNAP, IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE, HEALTHCARE ASSISTANCE, AND MUCH MORE.FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, RIVER FUND HAS PROMOTED ITS "FAMILY-BY-FAMILY" APPROACH TO BENEFITS ACCESS IN THE BELIEF THAT IT CAN SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE ENROLLMENT OF QUALIFIED LOW-INCOME ADULTS, UNEMPLOYED, SENIORS, AND IMMIGRANTS. TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE, BEYOND THE MERE ACT OF OUTREACH, EASILY ACCESSIBLE ASSISTANCE IS ESSENTIAL FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNAWARE OF, OR PUZZLED ABOUT, THE APPLICATION PROCESS.