West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH), one of New York City’s most impactful emergency food providers, is kicking off it’s 2025 Healthy Foods Holiday Challenge with a bold goal: raise $300,000 to provide nutritious holiday meals to 12,000 families across the city.
For more than a decade, WSCAH has supported tens of thousands of New Yorkers in celebrating the holidays by distributing turkeys alongside their regular monthly supply of healthy groceries. To better reflect the diverse dietary needs of their customers, WSCAH added pork shoulders and vegetarian options in addition to turkeys two years ago and will be doing the same this year.
WSCAH’s reach spans all five boroughs through a network of community partners and innovative programs like home delivery. Their flagship location on West 86th Street continues to see record demand. In their most recent fiscal year ending in June 2025, the organization distributed over 5 million pounds of healthy food, more than half of which was fresh produce, to more than 120,000 New Yorkers.
With food insecurity still rising due to high grocery prices, rent hikes, and reduced government support, WSCAH’s work is more critical than ever. A donation of $75 can provide a family with a holiday box containing a turkey, pork shoulder, or voucher for a vegetarian option, plus fresh produce and other seasonal items.
In addition to donating, New Yorkers can take action by volunteering. WSCAH is hosting VolunteerFest on Thursday, November 21 and Friday, November 22 at their Upper West Side site (263 West 86th Street). This special event will bring together volunteers of all ages (6+) to help pack and distribute food boxes, engage with the community, and learn more about WSCAH’s mission. This is a chance to connect with neighbors and make a tangible impact on the West Side.
Whether you’re looking to give back as an individual, with your family, or as part of a corporate or school group, WSCAH welcomes your support.
How You Can Help
- Donate: Every dollar helps WSCAH get closer to its $300,000 goal. Donate to the Healthy Foods Holiday Challenge!
- Volunteer: Visit WSCAH.org’s volunteer page for group and family-friendly opportunities.
- Spread the word: Follow on Instagram to share WSCAH’s mission with your network and encourage others to get involved.
Together, we can ensure that New Yorkers can enjoy nourishing holiday meals at home this season.
