QUEENS CO., N.Y. — Queens County Farm Museum continues its partnership with Queens College, CUNY to support the health & wellness of the CUNY community. Now that the harvest season is over, Queens Farm can help feed New Yorkers through its annual food drive. The food drive begins November 5th through December 31st, 2021. Queens Farm is encouraging visitors, neighbors and the general public to stop by its Farm Store and drop off packaged, shelf-stable, healthy food to support food insecure CUNY students and their families. Food insecurity is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as having limited access to adequate food due to a lack of money or other resources.
The City University of New York (CUNY) is the nationâs largest urban public university. No higher education system in the United States is as successful as CUNY at graduating students from low-income and first generation Americans. It is a bridge to the middle class and beyond. According to the 2018 Healthy CUNY survey, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, nearly 40% of CUNYâs student population comes from households earning less than $20,000 a year. The economic crisis triggered by Covid business interruptions created a cascading effect that the community has yet to recover from.
In the subsequent 2021 report, The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on College Studentsâ Health and Financial Stability in New York City by Heidi E. Jones et al published in the Journal of Urban Health, fifty percent of CUNY students reported often or sometimes worrying about running out of food before being able to afford more, and 27% reported often or sometimes skipping a meal because they could not afford food. This report, based on findings from a Population-Based Sample of CUNY Students illustrates the alarming trend.
âThe hunger to learn should be the only hunger in their life,â stated Jennifer Walden Weprin, Executive Director of the Queens County Farm Museum. âWhen you buy your favorite nonperishable groceries, pick up an extra set to support the food drive. Last year we received record donations from the community and we are so thankful for their support.â
âThe Queens College community is deeply grateful to Queens County Farm Museum Executive Director Jennifer Walden Weprin and her superb team for partnering with us again this holiday season to help alleviate food insecurity. This program is successful due to the generosity of the Farm Museumsâ patrons. It enables both eligible Queens College and CUNY students to benefit and therefore contributes to the support they need to focus on their academic studies and goals. Many thanks to all New Yorkers who are participating this year,â said Queens College President Frank H. Wu.
About the Queens County Farm Museum
Queens County Farm Museum is one of the longest continually farmed sites in New York State dating back to 1697. The historic site consists of a 47-acre tract of farmland that showcases the 300-year history of agriculture as a way of life in New York City. Queens County Farm Museum is a New York City Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information or to plan your visit go to queensfarm.org.
–Queens County Farm Museum