The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated our communities, which have seen the highest rates of infections and deaths in New York due to poor access to healthcare, overcrowding, and workplace exposure.

In response, Make the Road New York has taken unprecedented steps to mitigate the catastrophic impact of this crisis on our state’s immigrant and working class families. We were the first place many turned to for support, and we have fielded thousands of urgent calls, texts, and emails from community members in desperate need of food, reliable information, and healthcare.

Before the end of March, as low-income community members lost jobs without notice, the need for emergency food was immediate. We have expanded our food pantry programs in Brooklyn and Queens and created food distribution sites in Staten Island and Westchester. In total, we continuously distribute over 1,100 food bags per week.

The need for financial relief programs has also been overwhelming. Additionally, we have provided cash cards mailed to our members’ homes.

In 2020, we distributed $4.5 Million worth of cash cards to 6,466 homes. Below, we break down our allocations per borough and county.

Queens: $2,227,507 to 2,901 households;

Brooklyn: $942,707 to 1,296 households;

Long Island: $313,099 to 611 households;

Bronx: $349,397 to 593 households;

Staten Island: $384,591 to 493 households;

Westchester: $148,377 to 306 households;

Manhattan: $111,850 to 187 households;

Other: $60,380 to 79 households.

To see the full scope of our Make the Road NY’s COVID-19 response and its vital impact on the lives of those we serve, download our Meeting the Moment: Make the Road New York in the COVID Era report.