The Breakfast Club – Interview with Leslie Gordon & Zach Hall: NYC Food Bank, Feeding Families & More

Date: December 2, 2025
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Guests: Leslie Gordon & Zach Hall (Food Bank For New York City)

Episode Overview

This engaging episode of The Breakfast Club features Leslie Gordon (President & CEO) and Zach Hall from the Food Bank For New York City. The conversation dives deeply into food insecurity across NYC, the ambitious "50 Million Meals" campaign, misconceptions about hunger, the realities faced by everyday New Yorkers, and how listeners can support the mission—whether through donating money, time, advocacy, or simply spreading awareness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of Food Insecurity in NYC

• 1 in 5 New Yorkers Struggle
  • Zach Hall highlights that "about 20% of our neighbors...struggle with knowing when their next meal is coming" (03:24).
  • Food insecurity isn't limited to the homeless—it's working families, seniors, and even professionals.
    • Quote: "It's not the homeless man on the street...These are folks that are, you see every day, these folks that are in your building working on jobs all across the city that are just trying to make ends meet." — Leslie Gordon (04:14)

2. The "50 Million Meals" Campaign

• Ambitious goal to provide 50 million meals by year-end, responding to record-high demand due to inflation and systemic inequalities.
• Community partnership and ongoing generosity from New Yorkers are crucial, but resources still fall short.
  • Quote: "We're on a mission. We want to make sure we raise 50 million meals by the end of this calendar year." — Zach Hall (03:24)

3. Misconceptions & Real Faces of Hunger

• Hunger is an invisible crisis; many who line up are employed, have families, and sometimes even degrees or professional experience.
• Charlamagne recounts seeing federal workers at food pantries during a government shutdown:
  • Quote: "These aren't people on SNAP benefits...They just couldn't make ends meet because they weren't getting any paychecks." (04:50)

4. Impact of Government Shutdowns

• Shutdowns halt SNAP benefits, causing surges in demand at pantries.
• Most SNAP recipients are working, taxpaying families. The disruption reaches far beyond government workers.
  • Quote: "SNAP benefits were halted for the first time in history. We had two weeks of folks just not getting the food they need to get by...that saw a surge in demand at our pantries across the city." — Leslie Gordon (07:01)

5. Political Frustrations and the Need for Policy Change

• Despite the bipartisan nature of hunger, political gridlock continues to threaten the most vulnerable.
  • Quote: "We want to make sure that that's a fundamental...condition of survival in this country...it is frustrating that our elected leaders can't get along and figure this out." — Leslie Gordon (08:15)
• Charlamagne asks: What one systemic policy would help most?
  • Zach: "Wages, that's always a big thing...the cost of living...is far outpaced wage increases...you need to make a minimum of $100,000 just to make ends meet [in NYC]. Rent eats first." (09:17)

6. The Realities Behind Food Distribution

• Donations remain steady but are not adequate for the scale of need.
• Many families suffer long-term debt spikes after crisis events (like shutdowns), supplementing groceries with credit or IOUs.
  • Quote: "People started putting groceries and other bills on credit cards...can take years to get yourself back into a stable place again." — Zach Hall (11:04)

7. The Power and Efficiency of Small Donations

• Asked if $1 really helps: Yes, every little bit counts. Each dollar can provide roughly 3–5 meals, thanks to partnerships and efficiency.
  • Quote: "No donation is too big and no donation is too small." — Leslie Gordon (12:23)
  • Quote: “We try and be as efficient as possible…between three and five meals, for sure.” — Zach Hall (12:03)
• Volunteering, advocacy, and community voice are also vital.

8. Access, Dignity & Inclusivity at Food Pantries

• No barrier to service—no ID or proof required, and immigrants welcome (19:46).
• Visit foodbanknyc.org’s Food Finder for a dignified, “grocery store”-like experience (“client choice”), respecting dietary needs and cultural backgrounds.
  • Quote: "We want it to be a dignified experience...You get a set of points and you shop around in a mock supermarket style experience." — Zach Hall (13:10)
  • Quote: “No barriers to service. We’re not here to judge you. We’re here to help you live your best life.” — Zach Hall (19:47)

9. Challenges for Pantries and the Community

• Demand is at an all-time high—pantries are sometimes forced to split cartons of eggs in half to serve more people.
  • Quote: “You see a woman taking a carton of 12 eggs and cutting it in half...that’s not what we want to be doing.” — Zach Hall (20:15)
• Early mornings, long waits, and emotional stress are everyday realities for recipients.
• Food insecurity affects everyone: postal workers, truck drivers, teachers—even a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef.

10. Ensuring Nutrition and Wellbeing

• Dietitians at Food Bank NYC oversee procurement to ensure meals are healthy, minimally processed, and culturally appropriate.
• 40% of distributed food is produce or lean protein.
  • Quote: "We have dietitians on staff...we're not reinforcing some of the chronic health conditions that are plagued by so many communities who are also food insecure." — Leslie Gordon (23:54)
• Surprising fact: Some kids in NYC have never tried fruits like blueberries due to cost (25:27).
• Not food police: Occasional treats are shared, and joy matters (“Everybody deserves a treat!” — Zach Hall (26:39))

11. The Human Impact and Hidden Stories

• The work extends beyond food: school pantries also distribute hygiene products, laundry detergent, and more, removing barriers to school participation and social inclusion.
  • Quote/Story: “There’s one kid...after his family started going to the pantry, he started...raising his hand [in class]. It’s because he got deodorant...that prepares him to be a better learner.” — Leslie Gordon (28:18)
• The staff's passion: Many at Food Bank have made it a lifetime career, underscoring their commitment and the meaningfulness of the mission.

12. How Listeners Can Help (Giving Tuesday)

• Financial donations are the most scalable and immediate way to help—no amount too small.
• Volunteers and advocates are always needed to support immediate needs and longer-term policy changes.
  • Visit foodbanknyc.org to donate or get involved.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• 03:24 Zach Hall: “We want to make sure we raise 50 million meals by the end of this calendar year.”
• 04:14 Leslie Gordon: “It's not the homeless man on the street...These are folks that are...trying to make ends meet.”
• 07:01 Leslie Gordon: “SNAP benefits were halted for the first time in history. We had two weeks of folks just not getting the food they need...”
• 09:17 Zach Hall: "If you live in New York City...you need to make a minimum of $100,000 just to make ends meet. Rent eats first."
• 12:23 Leslie Gordon: “No donation is too big and no donation is too small.”
• 13:10 Zach Hall: “You get a set of points and you shop around in a mock supermarket style experience."
• 20:15 Zach Hall: "You see a woman taking a carton of 12 eggs and cutting it in half...that's not what we want to be doing."
• 23:54 Leslie Gordon: “We have dietitians on staff...we're not reinforcing some of the chronic health conditions that are plagued by so many communities who are also food insecure.”
• 28:18 Leslie Gordon: "[School] pantries...also [give] basic needs like hygiene supplies...There's one kid...after his family started going to the pantry, he started...raising his hand [in class]...it's because he got deodorant."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:05 – Guests introduced: Leslie Gordon & Zach Hall
• 03:24 – Food insecurity statistics and the 50 Million Meals campaign
• 04:06 – Misconceptions about hunger’s real face
• 04:50 – Federal employees and middle-class families at pantries
• 07:01–07:51 – Systemic problems from government shutdowns
• 09:17 – Policy needs and economic root causes
• 12:03 – Donation impact and practical support
• 13:10 – How to access food bank services & the client choice model
• 19:46 – Services for immigrants and inclusivity
• 20:15 – Pantries forced to ration food, peak demand
• 23:54 – Ensuring nutritious, relevant meals
• 28:18 – The transformative effect of pantries in schools
• 30:10 – Giving Tuesday: how to help right now

Summary

This heartfelt, informative episode provides a comprehensive look into NYC’s hunger crisis, the dedication and innovation of Food Bank NYC, and the ongoing work to combat food insecurity at scale. Listeners gain a clear understanding of both systemic obstacles and everyday heroism, while being offered concrete ways to join the mission—reminding us all that no act of giving is ever too small.

To support or seek help:

• Visit foodbanknyc.org

“Everybody can find themselves on our journey to empower all New Yorkers for good.” — Zach Hall (30:39)