Christ & St. Stephen's Church, Manhattan
West Side Campaign Against Hunger 

263 W. 86th St., New York, NY 10024 

Since 1979, the West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH) has provided food for low income customers to prepare at home.  The food pantry is set up like a supermarket and functions as a customer cooperative. Customers select their food according to their household size.  In 2011 the pantry provided food for more than 1 million meals to 10 thousand households. In addition to the pantry, in 2002 WSCAH developed the Customer Chef Training Program which provides pantry customers with basic education in professional kitchen skills. The twelve week program, conducted in English and Spanish, teaches self-sufficiency, work skills, nutrition, healthy eating and basic kitchen procedures. Participants gain hands-on   cooking experience through  the daily prepar at i on of  lunch for pantry volunteers. It provides skills and confidence needed in the workplace and has been successful as a stepping stone to higher education. WSCAH aims to change perceptions of hungry people by working in partnership with them, providing food with dignity and empowering customers to find solutions.