Loading summary

Transcript136 lines

[00:00]
Narrator/Announcer
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human when the holidays start to.
[00:06]
Commercial Voice
Feel a bit repetitive, reach for a Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry and put your twist on tradition. It's a refreshing way to shake things up this sippin season and only for a limited time. Sprite Obey your thirst.
[00:20]
Charlamagne tha God
Tonight at 10, 9 Central on BET, an all new episode of 106 in Sports from executive producers LeBron James and Maverick Carter. It's a new top five countdown with hosts Ashley, Nicole Moss and Cam Newton. They're breaking down the top moments in sports, culture and entertainment and highlighting both established pros and the stars on the come up. Watch the all new series 106 in sports tonight at 109 Central on BET or catch up the next day on BET.
[00:51]
Leslie Gordon
What up y'?
[00:52]
Zach Hall
All?
[00:52]
DJ Envy
It's DJ Envy. You can go anywhere and find clothes, but at JD Sports you can discover your style. Like I needed a pair of blue and white sneakers and I couldn't find them anywhere so I stopped in at JD's. I know what I like and I got it. At JD's. I found a pair of kicks, blue and white. That was exactly what I was looking for. I'm always able to find my style at JD Sports. Discover iconic styles now cultivate your look at JD Sports. Head to JD Sports to discover the latest gear to elevate your style. JD Sports Forward Black Friday's here and the Home Depot's got the best prices of the year. You can get up to 40% off select Smart devices like the Ring Floodlight camera, which is perfect for keeping your home safe during the holidays. Don't sleep. Upgrade your home into the smartest holiday home this season. Whether you're hosting family or throwing an annual holiday party, the Home Depot has savings on top brands and exclusive deals all in one place. It's your one stop shop for an entirely connecting home. So start shopping now@homedepot.com.
[01:50]
Commercial Voice
Your pet is your bestie, your therapist, your perfect match. It's easy to love them. It's easy to protect them too with pet insurance coverage from Pets Best because it's all fun and games until they chew on something they shouldn't and you get a vet bill to match with perfect timing. Pets Best helps protect your furry friend and your budget from this imperfect world. Get up to 90% cash back on eligible vet bills from less than a dollar a day. Pets Best has plans to cover accidents, injuries and more, from puppies and kittens to seniors. Find your perfect match plan and get a quote@petsbest.com Pet insurance products offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company or Independence American Insurance Company for terms and conditions, visit www.petsbest.com. policy products are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company, Independence American Insurance Company or Ms. Transverse Insurance Company and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC. $1.00 a day premium based on 2024 average new policyholder data for accident and illness plans. Pets age 0 to 10.
[02:54]
Charlamagne tha God
Program your Alarm to Power 105.1 on iHeartRadio.
[02:57]
DJ Envy
Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy Jess. Hilarious Charlemagne, the guy. We are the breakfast club. Lauren LaRose is here as well. We got some special guests in the building.
[03:05]
Charlamagne tha God
Yes, indeed.
[03:06]
DJ Envy
We have Leslie Gordon and Zach Hall. Welcome.
[03:09]
Leslie Gordon
Thank you.
[03:09]
DJ Envy
Good morning. How y' all feeling this morning?
[03:10]
Zach Hall
What's up? How we doing?
[03:11]
DJ Envy
From the Food bank of New York City. Yes, yes.
[03:14]
Charlamagne tha God
Nobody does better work, you know, in regards to helping people that are food insecure than the food bank in New York City, man.
[03:20]
Zach Hall
Amen.
[03:21]
Charlamagne tha God
And, you know, y' all have your 50 million meals campaign. Tell us what that is.
[03:25]
Zach Hall
Yeah. So look, here in New York City, about 20% of our neighbors, almost every street, every borough struggle with knowing when their next meal is coming from, what it's going to be. You know, if you don't have enough food, it becomes like your every minute, every moment. Where's it going to come from? What's it going to be? How am I going to feed my family? And so we're on a roll. We're on a mission. We're on a campaign. We want to make sure we raise 50 million meals by the end of this calendar year. Wow. And you've been great. Right. Thank you for being in it to win it with us. Thank you for helping people to understand and appreciate the nature of not having enough looks like in New York City.
[04:07]
Charlamagne tha God
What is the biggest misconception, and I want both of y' all to answer this. What's the biggest misconception people have about who is food insecure and why exactly?
[04:15]
Leslie Gordon
Well, I always, you know, want to tell people that it's not the homeless man on the street, Right? Like, 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. And the cost of living in New York City is so high that, like Leslie said, It's 20 in New York City. That's. That's a million and 300,000 people, which is a good size American city. Right. So these are folks that, you know, are trying to get their kids to school, trying to make sure mom and dad in retirement aren't struggling to afford the medications that they need. And we just need, you know, kind of citywide effort to make sure we can feed our neighbors.
[04:51]
Charlamagne tha God
One thing I saw, especially during the government shutdown, you know, actual federal workers coming to the food bank. These aren't people on SNAP benefits. These aren't people on no. Any type of welfare. They just, you know, couldn't make ends meet because they weren't getting any. Any paychecks. So they had to go to the food bank.
[05:05]
Zach Hall
Yeah. You know, here in America, they say most people are about, you know, one paycheck away from finding themselves standing on a pantry line, going to a community kitchen to get a hot meal. We had this incredible couple, you know, come visit us in Queens. They said, you know, we haven't been on a pantry line since the last government shut down. 2018, 2019. Our daughter has a scholarship at Cornell. She's coming home. We need to be able to gather around the table for Thanksgiving just like any other. And so we need the food. The amazing thing about it is that there's such an incredible spirit of gratitude. Right. We're in that season of gratitude. And so the same couple who stood on the line, they took their groceries home. The guy comes back about half an hour later, our team's out on the ground like they normally are, and thought he forgot something, maybe he needs something else. And he said, no, I'm gonna roll up my sleeves. I'm here to help. Put me to work. What can I do? Yeah, it's incredible.
[06:05]
Charlamagne tha God
How did the government shutdown impact your operations? Like to provide the food?
[06:11]
Zach Hall
Yeah. I mean, we're made for moments like this. At Food bank for New York City, we've got such an incredible team, and we've got, you know, great ambassadors like all of you and Charlemagne here. And so that when the demand rises, we rise right along with it to make sure New Yorkers have what they need. But if I'm being really honest, that's where we need people to stand shoulder to shoulder with us. Right. We need them to be in it with us 365 days a year. That's the thing. Hunger doesn't take a holiday. Right. We tend to have these conversations around the holidays. Christmas, Thanksgiving, you know, people are hungry all year long, and there's. Everybody can find themselves on our journey. Right. That's what's really special. Speaking as objectively as I can about what we do at Food bank for New York City. Right.
[07:01]
Leslie Gordon
And you know, the shutdown you mentioned that, you know, SNAP benefits were halted for the first time in history. Right. We had two weeks of folks just not getting the food they need to get, get to get by that saw a surge in demand at our pantries across the city. And that's something that we don't want to repeat. You know, this folks shouldn't be punished for, for politics. And this is about people, not about partisanship and want to make sure that folks in America are being fed and having. Most SNAP recipients are taxpaying working families, but they're just, they weren't getting their benefits. So we want to make sure that that doesn't happen again. Unfortunately, you know, the, the benefit, the government was being funded through September 30th the next year, thank God. But, you know, shutdowns really, really impact people way more than just workers not showing up to work. It's about lots of systems being impacted.
[07:51]
Zach Hall
It's, it's about affordability. I mean, let's just be really honest. Right.
[07:55]
Narrator/Announcer
I was going to ask, how frustrating is it for you guys? Because you're really on the ground seeing these people in these families. But when you see headlines and politicians making it about Republican, Democrat, like, it's, it's a different experience for you as you're meeting these families.
[08:10]
Zach Hall
Right.
[08:11]
Narrator/Announcer
So, like, what's that experience in talking to those people as they're watching that happen?
[08:15]
Zach Hall
Yeah, go ahead.
[08:16]
Leslie Gordon
I think it's just basic needs. Right. Like, everybody eats. So we want to make sure that that's a fundamental, you know, kind of condition of survival in this country and in the city. This isn't about an urban or a suburban or a rural issue. Hunger affects everybody across the country. And the shutdown threw that into stark relief. Right. Like, so all of a sudden, 42 million people in the country didn't have SNAP benefits. And the politics of it is, is not apparent for us. We're serving households that are coming to us, no matter any type of political persuasion. And we're here to serve everybody. And, you know, it is frustrating that our elected leaders can't get along and figure this out. And that's something that we always push for. Like, know, policy means that people are impacted and how can we come together, you know, party set aside and just move the country forward?
[09:09]
Charlamagne tha God
What policy of systemic change would make the single biggest impact right now in regards to keeping hunger from rising?
[09:18]
Zach Hall
Yeah, I mean, wages, that's always a big thing, Right. The cost of living all across the country and especially right here in New York City is far outpaced paced wage increases. You know what we know? Here's. Check this out for a minute. So if you live in New York City, what we know is that you need to make a minimum of $100,000 just to make ends meet. Right. Rent eats first. I constantly say so after you've paid the light bill, after you've paid for rent. Right. Transportation, gas in the car, shoes for your kids, all of that, there isn't a whole lot left. Right. And so we need to work on wages. Housing. Right. We all talk about housing a lot. That's a very serious issue. It's really hard to live your best life when you don't really know where you're going to live or it's taking up a big chunk of your salary. We've got to come together and fix it.
[10:14]
DJ Envy
I was going to ask, when it comes to everything that's going on in the world, are donations and contributions down or is it up? How is that looking?
[10:22]
Zach Hall
Yeah, I mean, that's what's so special about New Yorkers. Right. Is that we've got such a spirit of coming together in the best of times and in the worst of times, including all of you. And so folks have continued to be generous in some of the most impressive ways. It's quite frankly, humbling. It's one of the best parts of my job is when people step forward and raise their hand and say, how can I help? What can I do? But it's not enough. Right. We're on pace to maybe distribute about 100 million pounds of good nutritious food this year.
[11:04]
Leslie Gordon
Wow.
[11:04]
Zach Hall
Which is crazy here in New York City. And that doesn't even begin to fill the bucket. So we need people to be at it with us long term. When we talk about the government shutdown, for example, so people say, oh, the government's back in business again. Well, here's what happened when the shutdown occurred. People started putting groceries and other bills on credit cards. They started borrowing from friends, IOUs. And what we know is that when that happens, it can take years to get yourself back into a stable place again.
[11:39]
Charlamagne tha God
Yeah.
[11:40]
Leslie Gordon
And you can't pay your credit card bills with SNAP benefits.
[11:42]
Zach Hall
Yes.
[11:43]
Leslie Gordon
You're hustling to try and cover the costs that you incurred to trying to feed yourself.
[11:46]
Zach Hall
Can't buy diapers. Right.
[11:48]
Leslie Gordon
Yeah.
[11:49]
Zach Hall
None of that.
[11:49]
Charlamagne tha God
I know a lot of people may feel that donating is like, it has to be expensive, like the donation has to be expensive. Is it true that a dollar will One dollar can feed five. Well, five meals can get you five meals.
[12:04]
Zach Hall
Look, we try and be as efficient as possible. Food's gotten increasingly expensive. We're really good at what we do. You know, we work with cheers for the New York State farmers. Right. We try and support our own New Jersey farmers, Connecticut farmers. So, yeah, it does go a long way, I would say between three and five meals, for sure.
[12:22]
Charlamagne tha God
Nice.
[12:23]
Leslie Gordon
No donation is too big and no donation is too small.
[12:26]
Charlamagne tha God
Yeah.
[12:26]
Leslie Gordon
Really?
[12:27]
Charlamagne tha God
Yeah.
[12:27]
Leslie Gordon
We see different ways to invest in our work. You can certainly the monetary piece is really critical right now, as Lindsey's describing, getting us to the. To the point of where we can get 50 million meals.
[12:39]
Zach Hall
Yeah.
[12:40]
Leslie Gordon
But it's also volunteering and advocating is. Another critical piece for us, is making sure community voices are heard, elected officials, policy gets improved, and that we can get, you know, those. Those components that help folks live better lives, you know, in place.
[12:55]
DJ Envy
Now, if somebody's out there and they're listening, explain how it works, like, you know, you're from Queens or you're in the city, what's the process? I can just go up to any food bank and wait online and get food. Am I outside waiting in line? Like, what is the process for people that don't know?
[13:11]
Zach Hall
Yeah. So no barriers to service. Right. We want to make accessing food as a fundamental right is the way that we see it easy for individuals, for older adults, for families. And so we've got this cool food finder that we've spent a lot of time developing. So you can Visit us at foodbanknyc.org, click on find Food, and it'll bring up a map. You just put in your zip code, and it'll give you a sense of either someplace close to where you work, someplace close to where you live, where you can find a pantry. And we want it to be a dignified experience. So years ago, if people who are listening have an older reflection on going to a food pantry or a community kitchen, and it used to be hello and you get a bag, now things have shifted pretty dramatically. We want it to be like a mock grocery store experience as much as we possibly can within our network. And so you go, and we welcome you warmly. Right. We want it to be. We want you to be seen. We want you to be heard when you come. We want to talk about what else is going on for you. Right. Because food insecurity is a continuum of things. And so, you know, if you're a family of four, let's say you come in and instead of money. We give you a set of points. It's called client choice. You get a set of points and you shop around in a mock supermarket style experience. And you can pick what makes sense for your families and what you want for yourselves. Because I tell people food isn't nutritious if you won't eat it, right? Think about that. It's really, you're not seen if somebody hands you a ham or a chicken, but you're vegetarian or you're vegan, right? Like, what are you gonna do then? And so we want to make, we want to make the healthy choice, the easy choice, but we also want you to feel like home.
[15:07]
Leslie Gordon
And we're, you know, New York City is such a diverse place, you know, communities and cultures from all over. And we want to make sure that that food is, you know, in front of folks that, that it's familiar and means that they can feed their family in the way that makes sense.
[15:21]
Narrator/Announcer
The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year, filled with joy and laughter, a little bit of the festive chaos we all secretly love. From long shopping lists to travel plans to family dinners, it's a lot happening all at once. But this season, Coca Cola wants to remind everyone that the magic isn't in the hustle and bustle. It's finding joy in the little moments, like laughing over old memories, playing holiday games, or taking that first sip of an ice cold Coca Cola that cuts through all the holiday frenzy and brings the cool comfort to your soul. Because that's the good stuff. The joy hiding in plain sight. The sound of laughter mixing with the clink of glasses, the calm between the songs and the stories. And when things start to feel like they're doing the most, that crisp, delicious taste of Coca Cola can be the reset everyone needs. Just a little reminder that the season isn't about rushing, it's about refreshing. So wherever the holidays take you, slow down, take a breath and savor the moment. Enjoy a Coca Cola Refresh your holidays.
[16:20]
Commercial Voice
Protect your pet with insurance from Pets Best plans start from less than a dollar a day. Visit petsbest.com Pet insurance products offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Co. Or Independence American Insurance Co. For terms and conditions, visit www.petsbest.com. policy products are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company, Independence American Insurance Co. Or Ms. Transverse Insurance Co. And administered by Pets Best Insurance Services LLC. $1 a day premium based on 2024 average new policyholder data for accident and IL pets age 0 to 10 hey.
[16:50]
DJ Envy
Ryan Reynolds here wishing you a very.
[16:52]
Zach Hall
Happy half off holiday because right now.
[16:55]
DJ Envy
Mint Mobile is offering you the gift.
[16:56]
Zach Hall
Of 50% off unlimited. To be clear, that's half price, not half the service. Mint is still premium unlimited wireless for a great price. So that means a half day. Yeah.
[17:09]
DJ Envy
Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment.
[17:13]
Commercial Voice
Of $45 for three month plan equivalent to 50 new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow 135 gigabytes of network fizzy taxes and fees extra.
[17:19]
Janice Torres
Cmintmobile.com the wait is over. The NYX Black Friday sale is on now@Knix.com shop early and save up to 60% off site wide plus all kinds of limited time daily deals from the number one leak proof brand in North America. Don't miss your chance to save big on innovative intimates like leak proof underwear, wireless bras, shapewear and more. Everything is on sale. Millions have made the switch to NYX's revolutionary period underwear and there's never been a better time for you to try them too. During the Black Friday sale, save up to 60% on super comfy machine washable and stylish leak proof undies. Plus shop the best deals of the year on NYX's best selling assortment of wireless bras. Don't miss this chance to stock up on your NYX favorites or try something new during the Nick's Black Friday event. That's knix.com the sale ends December 2nd and sizes will sell out. Go to nyx.com that's knix.com.
[18:22]
Charlamagne tha God
Hey audiobook lovers. This week on the podcast I'm sitting down with musician, producer and walking encyclopedia Questlove. We're talking about Mark Ronson's memoir Night how to be a DJ in 90s New York City. All right, like we talked about before, Mark Ronson found sanctuary in the DJ booth. What's a tool or piece of equipment in the studio or on stage that gives you the most control? So I have two microphones on stage.
[18:47]
Leslie Gordon
We have the microphone that you hear as the audience.
[18:50]
Charlamagne tha God
Then we have a second microphone in which we communicate with each other.
[18:55]
Leslie Gordon
I feel like that second microphone kind.
[18:57]
Charlamagne tha God
Of saved all of our friendships. No band likes each other after 20 years. Years or 25 years. Like the Beatles broke up in seven and a half years and we're going on 35. Listen to earsay the Audible and iheart audiobook club on the iheartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
[19:23]
DJ Envy
I don't need a license. I don't have to prove that I'm this. I could just go down there and say, hey, this is what I need and I'll be taking care.
[19:29]
Leslie Gordon
You can, you can, like Leslie said, go, go to our website, find a pantry in your area. I would call them, make sure that the hours are, you know, what they're stating, because those things can change, especially around the holidays and so forth. But yeah, we want to make it as minimally invasive as possible, folks, to show up and get the nutritious food that they need.
[19:44]
DJ Envy
Now, what about for immigrants? Are immigrants allowed at this?
[19:47]
Leslie Gordon
Absolutely, 100%.
[19:48]
Zach Hall
No barriers to service. Right. We're not here to judge you good. We're here to help you live your best life. No matter where you come from, no matter when you reach out for support, we're going to be here for you.
[19:58]
Charlamagne tha God
Yeah, just don't cut in line in front of the locals.
[20:04]
Zach Hall
It gets a little rough.
[20:05]
Charlamagne tha God
It gets a little hectic.
[20:06]
Leslie Gordon
Cassini.
[20:07]
Charlamagne tha God
But I know y' all partner with a lot of, you know, pantries and community organizations. What are you hearing from them on the ground that isn't making headlines?
[20:15]
Zach Hall
You know, there was an article, I think it was the New York Times over the weekend and an accompanying video where you see a woman taking a carton of 12 eggs and cutting it in half just so that you can still spread around the resources. And so the demand is super high. You know, what's interesting is I've been in this work nearly 20 years, and we've never seen the amount of people standing online as high as it is today. And so we're having to do more with less. And so that's just another reason why we need everybody who's, who's listening to be in it with us, not only now, but for the long term. But can you imagine that taking a carton of eggs and you got to cut it in half so that this family can have sex and that family can have sex? Yeah, that's not what we want to be doing.
[21:02]
Leslie Gordon
It's also really time intensive, Right. Like thinking about, you know, folks are often telling us at the pantries that folks are lining up, you know, 5, 6 in the morning for a 9 o', clock, 10 o' clock opening. So think like that's a job, right? Like that's a. You're an early, early riser if you're getting to. To a pantry line that early. And I think folks don't recognize that it's really exhausting and time intensive to, to navigate poverty and being in a situation where your Food insecure. You gotta, you know, kind of expend so much energy and time to try and make, you know, basic ends meet.
[21:35]
Zach Hall
What we hear is that people are super stressed, right? Super stressed. It feels demoralizing. You know, people are quick to flare. They're angry, they're. They're frustrated. You know, they, they care about policy, but at the end of the day, it's about feeding themselves and their families. Place.
[21:56]
Leslie Gordon
Yeah. I also think that, you know, folks don't realize that how big of a network that we have is 800 plus food pantries and soup kitchens, but also schools, colleges, healthcare partners, and they really stepped up. Like Leslie's thing during the shutdown, folks were, you know, seeing a lot of above normal demand. But, you know, folks were just there. I'm gonna, we're gonna be here for my communities or community folks, helping each other and being that repository of dignified service where you can get, you know, trusted, nutritious food in your community is really critical. And that's, that's the thing that goes unsung oftentimes. Our, our pantry network of these folks have been doing this for as long as we have. Really. 40 plus years, you know.
[22:39]
Zach Hall
Yeah. I mean, it's. You see everybody on the line. The other day, I was out in the deep part of the South Bronx, which happens to be one of the neediest communities in, in all of New York City. Right. Underserved for years. You know, Morrisinia, Mott Haven, Fordham, Hunts Point, all those communities have been deeply underserved for years. And I love to talk to people on the line. One guy comes up and he said, oh, I'm so excited. Now I'm going to cook this or that. He's imagining what he's going to make with everything that we're giving out. And I said, oh, you like to cook? Tell me about that. He said, yeah, I'm a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America.
[23:18]
Leslie Gordon
Wow.
[23:18]
Zach Hall
I've cooked for some of the best chefs in America. You know, shall remain nameless on your show this morning. But, but he's out there on the line.
[23:26]
Narrator/Announcer
Yeah.
[23:27]
Zach Hall
He said, you know, between jobs, I don't always have enough to be able to feed myself. So I do it. You know, it's everybody you see, it's postal workers, it's, you know, truck drivers, it's teachers. We see a lot of teachers. It's kind of incredible about who's actually hungry.
[23:45]
Charlamagne tha God
You guys are providing on a large scale. There's a lot of people that y' all are getting food to. How do you ensure that the families are being fed quality meals?
[23:55]
Leslie Gordon
Well, this is one of my favorite parts because we have dietitians on staff, so they work with our procurement team to make sure we're bringing in balanced meals, you know, that are culturally relevant but also, you know, whole and minimally processed foods. And I have heard you talk before about nutrition, such an important, important component of, you know, overall health. And we're going to make sure that, you know, we're, we're not reinforcing some of the, you know, chronic health conditions that are plagued by so many communities who are also food insecure. It's like a double edged coin where, you know, your food insecure and you're, you have a diabetes or hypertension or.
[24:31]
Zach Hall
Cancer, heart disease, you're sick.
[24:33]
Leslie Gordon
Yeah.
[24:34]
Zach Hall
Then you gotta take off work to go to the doctor. Then you lose your job because you can't get to work because you're sick and you're out at the doctor too much. It ends up being a vicious cycle and a loop that people find themselves in. It's, it's pretty crazy. Nutritious. Food is really important to us. In addition to getting food that helps you feel seen and that feels like home. You know what's interesting is I think about kids in the Bronx. We saw you out over the summer in the Bronx. Do you know there are kids in our own city who have never had a blueberry? So you know what's interesting is it as a parent, when you have limited resources, you can't afford to make a mistake. Right. And so you've got to choose stuff that you know that your kids are gonna eat. What if, what if they've never had a blueberry before and you don't know if they're going to eat it?
[25:28]
Leslie Gordon
They're not cheap.
[25:28]
Zach Hall
It's not cheap. And so that's also part of what we do is help introduce everyone in New York City, especially kids, to new and different foods that, you know, mom and dad can't afford to make a mistake on. But we're going to make sure that they, they know what a blueberry is all about.
[25:45]
Leslie Gordon
And we've, we've been making really amazing strides towards that end. You know, about 40% of our food that goes out the door is produce or lean protein. Like really making sure that that's a well rounded, balanced plate of food for families.
[25:59]
Zach Hall
Everything that's. And you gotta come see, right, here's my personal invitation this morning because it's, I think it's quite fascinating the magical dance that happens behind the scenes in our incredible facility in the Hunts Point section in the South Bronx every day to make sure that there's food on the plate tonight, for a New Yorker, it's just hats off to our team that picks it up, puts it down, moves it around with such an incredible, heartfelt spirit every single day. Yes. Produce, I would say anything you find in a grocery store is what you're going to find in our inventory. And we're serious. So no cakes, pies, cookies, sugary drinks. That's. That's not what's in our facility.
[26:40]
Leslie Gordon
Yeah.
[26:40]
Charlamagne tha God
Now, I've had some good cookies at the Food bank at the one in Harlem.
[26:43]
DJ Envy
Oh.
[26:44]
Zach Hall
So listen, listen, listen, listen. So she's no joke, right? It's the ginger peach tea. It's those. I call them her slammin chocolate chip cookies. Right. Everybody deserves a treat. We are definitely not the food police. I feel you on that. So, yes, we've got this amazing Harlem kitchen right off of Frederick Douglass Boulevard. We've been there for a lot of years. Chef Sherry and her team spins out nearly 500 hot meals a day with love. And, yeah, those cookies, they're no joke.
[27:18]
Charlamagne tha God
I feel like that, you know, the Food bank for nyc, that's what I love about y' all the most. The passion that y' all actually have. It doesn't feel like, you know, y' all are just doing something for the sake of doing it. It's like everybody there is intentional about the mission. I feel that way.
[27:31]
Leslie Gordon
Yeah. I mean, I've had people on my team have been doing this for 20, 25 years. And so it's, you know, folks that come into the line of business stay at the organization because we love our people and stick around and grow and develop. I've been at food bank for 17 years myself.
[27:47]
Charlamagne tha God
Wow.
[27:48]
Leslie Gordon
Started as a tempo and, you know, kind of came into this. And, you know, Les has been doing this for. For decades as well. So we have is passion. I mean, feeding people, it's basic needs, man. You give somebody a bag, look in the look in their eye and understand that they're going to be better off because of that. That's not enough. Right. That's not enough to. To get people whole. But, you know, it's something that is a tribute to the staff that we have at Food bank, and, yeah. Take it very, very seriously.
[28:13]
Charlamagne tha God
Let me ask you questions, like, what's one story that reminds you why this mission still matters and keeps you motivated?
[28:18]
Leslie Gordon
It's a. It's a. It's an interesting story because it's not always about food. Right. So we have about 60 or so K to 12 pantries. So pantries at schools, elementary, middle, high schools. And you know, with generous funding from city council and other funders, we've been able to do this for, you know, going on 15 years. And part of the, the distribution, some of our pantries includes all the food we've been talking about, but also like some basic needs like hygiene supplies, laundry detergents, soap, shampoo, those types of things, deodorant. And there's this one. I was visiting one of these schools, PS 30 in, in the Bronx, and just asking the parent coordinator, how's it going? She says, oh, you know, like I didn't realize this, but this pantry has had like these other amazing effects. There's one kid in our class, David, he was shy, never really participating middle schooler. And after his family started going to the pantry, he started, you know, being more and more involved in class, participating, raising his hand. It's because he got deodorant and he was concerned that raising his hand in class, you know, we've all been in middle school, man, that's, that's a tough time. You don't be called out as a kid who can be a little funky. So by going to the class, he, he's getting, you know, not only meals been basic needs, but stuff that prepares him.
[29:42]
Commercial Voice
Yeah.
[29:42]
Leslie Gordon
To be a better learner. Essentials. Right. And like that's, that's a, like an incredible story of just like how that, that whole, whole household view can get kids in a better place to be them better self. And she, you know, she was almost in tears telling me how impactful this was for, for them in their school.
[30:01]
Charlamagne tha God
You know, so remember the deal. Remember, raise your hand if you're sure.
[30:04]
DJ Envy
Yeah.
[30:04]
Charlamagne tha God
He was unsure. Right, Right. That was, that was very, that was a very effective commercial.
[30:10]
DJ Envy
Now today is Giving Tuesday. How would you want people to, to go about giving? Is it money? Is it financial? Is it work? Is it all of the above?
[30:17]
Leslie Gordon
It's all the above. Money is the, the, the benefit for us is, is the most powerful way that we can, we can put investments back into our work and in our community. So go to foodbank nyc.org click on donate and learn how you can give. No, no, no gift is too big, no gift is too small. But really that keeps the engines purring across the street delivering all the food that we do.
[30:40]
Zach Hall
It's, you know, it's each one reach one, right? Everybody can find themselves on our journey to empower all new Yorkers for good. And so, yeah. Visit us atfoodbank nyc.org let's make sure that we're helping to fuel better days ahead for all of our New Yorkers.
[31:00]
Leslie Gordon
Absolutely.
[31:01]
DJ Envy
Leslie Gordon, Zach hall, thank you so much for joining us this morning. Make sure you go out and you give a little bit. Give what you can this morning. And thank you so much.
[31:08]
Zach Hall
Appreciate it, guys.
[31:09]
Leslie Gordon
Thank you.
[31:09]
DJ Envy
All right, it's the Breakfast Club. Good morning.
[31:12]
Charlamagne tha God
Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club. Are y' all finished or y' all done?
[31:19]
DJ Envy
What up, y'?
[31:20]
Zach Hall
All?
[31:20]
DJ Envy
It's DJ Envy. You can go anywhere and find clothes, but at JD Sports, you can discover your style. Like, I needed a pair of blue and white sneakers and I couldn't find them anywhere, so I stopped in at JD's. I know what I like and I got it. At JD's. I found a pair of kicks, blue and white. That was exactly what I was looking for. I'm always able to find my style at JD Sports. Discover iconic styles. Now cultivate your look at JD Sports. Head to JD Sports to discover the latest gear to elevate your style. JD Sports forward.
[31:51]
Zach Hall
Janice Torres here, and I'm Austin Hankwitz. We host the podcast Mind the Business, Small Business Success Stories, produced by Ruby Storm Studio in partnership with Intuit QuickBooks.
[32:00]
Janice Torres
We're back for season four to talk.
[32:02]
Commercial Voice
To some incredible small business owners.
[32:04]
Zach Hall
The big thing about working at tech.
[32:05]
Leslie Gordon
Is that it's ever evolving, ever changing.
[32:07]
Charlamagne tha God
Everyone's a rookie. That's how fast the industry is changing. So what I'm really excited about is.
[32:11]
Zach Hall
To be part of that change. So listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
[32:20]
Commercial Voice
Hear that? It's holiday cheer. Arriving at Ulta Beauty with gifts for everyone on your list. Treat them to fan favorite gift sets from Charlotte, Tilbury and Peach and Lily. Go all out with timeless fragrances from ysl, Ariana Grande and Carolina Herrera. And you can never go wrong with an Ulta Beauty gift card. Head to Ulta Beauty for gifts that make the holidays brighter and even more beautiful. Ulta Beauty gifting happens here. Black Friday is here. And Pandora Jewelry is offering up to 40% off storewide and site wide now through December 2nd. Explore jewelry designed to last beyond the season. From classic charms to modern rings, bracelets, earrings and more. Whether you're holiday shopping or treating yourself, now's the perfect time to find something Special. Shop@pandora.net or your local Pandora store. Exclusions apply. New school year, new routines and somehow your calendar is already full. When life gets hectic, Cauley Power's got your back. We make the food you crave made better for you, like thin and crispy cauliflower crust pizzas, all natural chicken tenders and nostalgic pizza snacks ready in minutes and something the whole family can agree on. Caulifower is available in freezer aisles nationwide. Visit eatcaulypower.com to find a store near you.
[33:41]
Narrator/Announcer
This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.

Summary7 min read

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)

Loading summary

Transcript136 lines

[00:00]
Narrator/Announcer
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human when the holidays start to.
[00:06]
Commercial Voice
Feel a bit repetitive, reach for a Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry and put your twist on tradition. It's a refreshing way to shake things up this sippin season and only for a limited time. Sprite Obey your thirst.
[00:20]
Charlamagne tha God
Tonight at 10, 9 Central on BET, an all new episode of 106 in Sports from executive producers LeBron James and Maverick Carter. It's a new top five countdown with hosts Ashley, Nicole Moss and Cam Newton. They're breaking down the top moments in sports, culture and entertainment and highlighting both established pros and the stars on the come up. Watch the all new series 106 in sports tonight at 109 Central on BET or catch up the next day on BET.
[00:51]
Leslie Gordon
What up y'?
[00:52]
Zach Hall
All?
[00:52]
DJ Envy
It's DJ Envy. You can go anywhere and find clothes, but at JD Sports you can discover your style. Like I needed a pair of blue and white sneakers and I couldn't find them anywhere so I stopped in at JD's. I know what I like and I got it. At JD's. I found a pair of kicks, blue and white. That was exactly what I was looking for. I'm always able to find my style at JD Sports. Discover iconic styles now cultivate your look at JD Sports. Head to JD Sports to discover the latest gear to elevate your style. JD Sports Forward Black Friday's here and the Home Depot's got the best prices of the year. You can get up to 40% off select Smart devices like the Ring Floodlight camera, which is perfect for keeping your home safe during the holidays. Don't sleep. Upgrade your home into the smartest holiday home this season. Whether you're hosting family or throwing an annual holiday party, the Home Depot has savings on top brands and exclusive deals all in one place. It's your one stop shop for an entirely connecting home. So start shopping now@homedepot.com.
[01:50]
Commercial Voice
Your pet is your bestie, your therapist, your perfect match. It's easy to love them. It's easy to protect them too with pet insurance coverage from Pets Best because it's all fun and games until they chew on something they shouldn't and you get a vet bill to match with perfect timing. Pets Best helps protect your furry friend and your budget from this imperfect world. Get up to 90% cash back on eligible vet bills from less than a dollar a day. Pets Best has plans to cover accidents, injuries and more, from puppies and kittens to seniors. Find your perfect match plan and get a quote@petsbest.com Pet insurance products offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company or Independence American Insurance Company for terms and conditions, visit www.petsbest.com. policy products are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company, Independence American Insurance Company or Ms. Transverse Insurance Company and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC. $1.00 a day premium based on 2024 average new policyholder data for accident and illness plans. Pets age 0 to 10.
[02:54]
Charlamagne tha God
Program your Alarm to Power 105.1 on iHeartRadio.
[02:57]
DJ Envy
Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy Jess. Hilarious Charlemagne, the guy. We are the breakfast club. Lauren LaRose is here as well. We got some special guests in the building.
[03:05]
Charlamagne tha God
Yes, indeed.
[03:06]
DJ Envy
We have Leslie Gordon and Zach Hall. Welcome.
[03:09]
Leslie Gordon
Thank you.
[03:09]
DJ Envy
Good morning. How y' all feeling this morning?
[03:10]
Zach Hall
What's up? How we doing?
[03:11]
DJ Envy
From the Food bank of New York City. Yes, yes.
[03:14]
Charlamagne tha God
Nobody does better work, you know, in regards to helping people that are food insecure than the food bank in New York City, man.
[03:20]
Zach Hall
Amen.
[03:21]
Charlamagne tha God
And, you know, y' all have your 50 million meals campaign. Tell us what that is.
[03:25]
Zach Hall
Yeah. So look, here in New York City, about 20% of our neighbors, almost every street, every borough struggle with knowing when their next meal is coming from, what it's going to be. You know, if you don't have enough food, it becomes like your every minute, every moment. Where's it going to come from? What's it going to be? How am I going to feed my family? And so we're on a roll. We're on a mission. We're on a campaign. We want to make sure we raise 50 million meals by the end of this calendar year. Wow. And you've been great. Right. Thank you for being in it to win it with us. Thank you for helping people to understand and appreciate the nature of not having enough looks like in New York City.
[04:07]
Charlamagne tha God
What is the biggest misconception, and I want both of y' all to answer this. What's the biggest misconception people have about who is food insecure and why exactly?
[04:15]
Leslie Gordon
Well, I always, you know, want to tell people that it's not the homeless man on the street, Right? Like, 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. And the cost of living in New York City is so high that, like Leslie said, It's 20 in New York City. That's. That's a million and 300,000 people, which is a good size American city. Right. So these are folks that, you know, are trying to get their kids to school, trying to make sure mom and dad in retirement aren't struggling to afford the medications that they need. And we just need, you know, kind of citywide effort to make sure we can feed our neighbors.
[04:51]
Charlamagne tha God
One thing I saw, especially during the government shutdown, you know, actual federal workers coming to the food bank. These aren't people on SNAP benefits. These aren't people on no. Any type of welfare. They just, you know, couldn't make ends meet because they weren't getting any. Any paychecks. So they had to go to the food bank.
[05:05]
Zach Hall
Yeah. You know, here in America, they say most people are about, you know, one paycheck away from finding themselves standing on a pantry line, going to a community kitchen to get a hot meal. We had this incredible couple, you know, come visit us in Queens. They said, you know, we haven't been on a pantry line since the last government shut down. 2018, 2019. Our daughter has a scholarship at Cornell. She's coming home. We need to be able to gather around the table for Thanksgiving just like any other. And so we need the food. The amazing thing about it is that there's such an incredible spirit of gratitude. Right. We're in that season of gratitude. And so the same couple who stood on the line, they took their groceries home. The guy comes back about half an hour later, our team's out on the ground like they normally are, and thought he forgot something, maybe he needs something else. And he said, no, I'm gonna roll up my sleeves. I'm here to help. Put me to work. What can I do? Yeah, it's incredible.
[06:05]
Charlamagne tha God
How did the government shutdown impact your operations? Like to provide the food?
[06:11]
Zach Hall
Yeah. I mean, we're made for moments like this. At Food bank for New York City, we've got such an incredible team, and we've got, you know, great ambassadors like all of you and Charlemagne here. And so that when the demand rises, we rise right along with it to make sure New Yorkers have what they need. But if I'm being really honest, that's where we need people to stand shoulder to shoulder with us. Right. We need them to be in it with us 365 days a year. That's the thing. Hunger doesn't take a holiday. Right. We tend to have these conversations around the holidays. Christmas, Thanksgiving, you know, people are hungry all year long, and there's. Everybody can find themselves on our journey. Right. That's what's really special. Speaking as objectively as I can about what we do at Food bank for New York City. Right.
[07:01]
Leslie Gordon
And you know, the shutdown you mentioned that, you know, SNAP benefits were halted for the first time in history. Right. We had two weeks of folks just not getting the food they need to get, get to get by that saw a surge in demand at our pantries across the city. And that's something that we don't want to repeat. You know, this folks shouldn't be punished for, for politics. And this is about people, not about partisanship and want to make sure that folks in America are being fed and having. Most SNAP recipients are taxpaying working families, but they're just, they weren't getting their benefits. So we want to make sure that that doesn't happen again. Unfortunately, you know, the, the benefit, the government was being funded through September 30th the next year, thank God. But, you know, shutdowns really, really impact people way more than just workers not showing up to work. It's about lots of systems being impacted.
[07:51]
Zach Hall
It's, it's about affordability. I mean, let's just be really honest. Right.
[07:55]
Narrator/Announcer
I was going to ask, how frustrating is it for you guys? Because you're really on the ground seeing these people in these families. But when you see headlines and politicians making it about Republican, Democrat, like, it's, it's a different experience for you as you're meeting these families.
[08:10]
Zach Hall
Right.
[08:11]
Narrator/Announcer
So, like, what's that experience in talking to those people as they're watching that happen?
[08:15]
Zach Hall
Yeah, go ahead.
[08:16]
Leslie Gordon
I think it's just basic needs. Right. Like, everybody eats. So we want to make sure that that's a fundamental, you know, kind of condition of survival in this country and in the city. This isn't about an urban or a suburban or a rural issue. Hunger affects everybody across the country. And the shutdown threw that into stark relief. Right. Like, so all of a sudden, 42 million people in the country didn't have SNAP benefits. And the politics of it is, is not apparent for us. We're serving households that are coming to us, no matter any type of political persuasion. And we're here to serve everybody. And, you know, it is frustrating that our elected leaders can't get along and figure this out. And that's something that we always push for. Like, know, policy means that people are impacted and how can we come together, you know, party set aside and just move the country forward?
[09:09]
Charlamagne tha God
What policy of systemic change would make the single biggest impact right now in regards to keeping hunger from rising?
[09:18]
Zach Hall
Yeah, I mean, wages, that's always a big thing, Right. The cost of living all across the country and especially right here in New York City is far outpaced paced wage increases. You know what we know? Here's. Check this out for a minute. So if you live in New York City, what we know is that you need to make a minimum of $100,000 just to make ends meet. Right. Rent eats first. I constantly say so after you've paid the light bill, after you've paid for rent. Right. Transportation, gas in the car, shoes for your kids, all of that, there isn't a whole lot left. Right. And so we need to work on wages. Housing. Right. We all talk about housing a lot. That's a very serious issue. It's really hard to live your best life when you don't really know where you're going to live or it's taking up a big chunk of your salary. We've got to come together and fix it.
[10:14]
DJ Envy
I was going to ask, when it comes to everything that's going on in the world, are donations and contributions down or is it up? How is that looking?
[10:22]
Zach Hall
Yeah, I mean, that's what's so special about New Yorkers. Right. Is that we've got such a spirit of coming together in the best of times and in the worst of times, including all of you. And so folks have continued to be generous in some of the most impressive ways. It's quite frankly, humbling. It's one of the best parts of my job is when people step forward and raise their hand and say, how can I help? What can I do? But it's not enough. Right. We're on pace to maybe distribute about 100 million pounds of good nutritious food this year.
[11:04]
Leslie Gordon
Wow.
[11:04]
Zach Hall
Which is crazy here in New York City. And that doesn't even begin to fill the bucket. So we need people to be at it with us long term. When we talk about the government shutdown, for example, so people say, oh, the government's back in business again. Well, here's what happened when the shutdown occurred. People started putting groceries and other bills on credit cards. They started borrowing from friends, IOUs. And what we know is that when that happens, it can take years to get yourself back into a stable place again.
[11:39]
Charlamagne tha God
Yeah.
[11:40]
Leslie Gordon
And you can't pay your credit card bills with SNAP benefits.
[11:42]
Zach Hall
Yes.
[11:43]
Leslie Gordon
You're hustling to try and cover the costs that you incurred to trying to feed yourself.
[11:46]
Zach Hall
Can't buy diapers. Right.
[11:48]
Leslie Gordon
Yeah.
[11:49]
Zach Hall
None of that.
[11:49]
Charlamagne tha God
I know a lot of people may feel that donating is like, it has to be expensive, like the donation has to be expensive. Is it true that a dollar will One dollar can feed five. Well, five meals can get you five meals.
[12:04]
Zach Hall
Look, we try and be as efficient as possible. Food's gotten increasingly expensive. We're really good at what we do. You know, we work with cheers for the New York State farmers. Right. We try and support our own New Jersey farmers, Connecticut farmers. So, yeah, it does go a long way, I would say between three and five meals, for sure.
[12:22]
Charlamagne tha God
Nice.
[12:23]
Leslie Gordon
No donation is too big and no donation is too small.
[12:26]
Charlamagne tha God
Yeah.
[12:26]
Leslie Gordon
Really?
[12:27]
Charlamagne tha God
Yeah.
[12:27]
Leslie Gordon
We see different ways to invest in our work. You can certainly the monetary piece is really critical right now, as Lindsey's describing, getting us to the. To the point of where we can get 50 million meals.
[12:39]
Zach Hall
Yeah.
[12:40]
Leslie Gordon
But it's also volunteering and advocating is. Another critical piece for us, is making sure community voices are heard, elected officials, policy gets improved, and that we can get, you know, those. Those components that help folks live better lives, you know, in place.
[12:55]
DJ Envy
Now, if somebody's out there and they're listening, explain how it works, like, you know, you're from Queens or you're in the city, what's the process? I can just go up to any food bank and wait online and get food. Am I outside waiting in line? Like, what is the process for people that don't know?
[13:11]
Zach Hall
Yeah. So no barriers to service. Right. We want to make accessing food as a fundamental right is the way that we see it easy for individuals, for older adults, for families. And so we've got this cool food finder that we've spent a lot of time developing. So you can Visit us at foodbanknyc.org, click on find Food, and it'll bring up a map. You just put in your zip code, and it'll give you a sense of either someplace close to where you work, someplace close to where you live, where you can find a pantry. And we want it to be a dignified experience. So years ago, if people who are listening have an older reflection on going to a food pantry or a community kitchen, and it used to be hello and you get a bag, now things have shifted pretty dramatically. We want it to be like a mock grocery store experience as much as we possibly can within our network. And so you go, and we welcome you warmly. Right. We want it to be. We want you to be seen. We want you to be heard when you come. We want to talk about what else is going on for you. Right. Because food insecurity is a continuum of things. And so, you know, if you're a family of four, let's say you come in and instead of money. We give you a set of points. It's called client choice. You get a set of points and you shop around in a mock supermarket style experience. And you can pick what makes sense for your families and what you want for yourselves. Because I tell people food isn't nutritious if you won't eat it, right? Think about that. It's really, you're not seen if somebody hands you a ham or a chicken, but you're vegetarian or you're vegan, right? Like, what are you gonna do then? And so we want to make, we want to make the healthy choice, the easy choice, but we also want you to feel like home.
[15:07]
Leslie Gordon
And we're, you know, New York City is such a diverse place, you know, communities and cultures from all over. And we want to make sure that that food is, you know, in front of folks that, that it's familiar and means that they can feed their family in the way that makes sense.
[15:21]
Narrator/Announcer
The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year, filled with joy and laughter, a little bit of the festive chaos we all secretly love. From long shopping lists to travel plans to family dinners, it's a lot happening all at once. But this season, Coca Cola wants to remind everyone that the magic isn't in the hustle and bustle. It's finding joy in the little moments, like laughing over old memories, playing holiday games, or taking that first sip of an ice cold Coca Cola that cuts through all the holiday frenzy and brings the cool comfort to your soul. Because that's the good stuff. The joy hiding in plain sight. The sound of laughter mixing with the clink of glasses, the calm between the songs and the stories. And when things start to feel like they're doing the most, that crisp, delicious taste of Coca Cola can be the reset everyone needs. Just a little reminder that the season isn't about rushing, it's about refreshing. So wherever the holidays take you, slow down, take a breath and savor the moment. Enjoy a Coca Cola Refresh your holidays.
[16:20]
Commercial Voice
Protect your pet with insurance from Pets Best plans start from less than a dollar a day. Visit petsbest.com Pet insurance products offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Co. Or Independence American Insurance Co. For terms and conditions, visit www.petsbest.com. policy products are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company, Independence American Insurance Co. Or Ms. Transverse Insurance Co. And administered by Pets Best Insurance Services LLC. $1 a day premium based on 2024 average new policyholder data for accident and IL pets age 0 to 10 hey.
[16:50]
DJ Envy
Ryan Reynolds here wishing you a very.
[16:52]
Zach Hall
Happy half off holiday because right now.
[16:55]
DJ Envy
Mint Mobile is offering you the gift.
[16:56]
Zach Hall
Of 50% off unlimited. To be clear, that's half price, not half the service. Mint is still premium unlimited wireless for a great price. So that means a half day. Yeah.
[17:09]
DJ Envy
Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment.
[17:13]
Commercial Voice
Of $45 for three month plan equivalent to 50 new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow 135 gigabytes of network fizzy taxes and fees extra.
[17:19]
Janice Torres
Cmintmobile.com the wait is over. The NYX Black Friday sale is on now@Knix.com shop early and save up to 60% off site wide plus all kinds of limited time daily deals from the number one leak proof brand in North America. Don't miss your chance to save big on innovative intimates like leak proof underwear, wireless bras, shapewear and more. Everything is on sale. Millions have made the switch to NYX's revolutionary period underwear and there's never been a better time for you to try them too. During the Black Friday sale, save up to 60% on super comfy machine washable and stylish leak proof undies. Plus shop the best deals of the year on NYX's best selling assortment of wireless bras. Don't miss this chance to stock up on your NYX favorites or try something new during the Nick's Black Friday event. That's knix.com the sale ends December 2nd and sizes will sell out. Go to nyx.com that's knix.com.
[18:22]
Charlamagne tha God
Hey audiobook lovers. This week on the podcast I'm sitting down with musician, producer and walking encyclopedia Questlove. We're talking about Mark Ronson's memoir Night how to be a DJ in 90s New York City. All right, like we talked about before, Mark Ronson found sanctuary in the DJ booth. What's a tool or piece of equipment in the studio or on stage that gives you the most control? So I have two microphones on stage.
[18:47]
Leslie Gordon
We have the microphone that you hear as the audience.
[18:50]
Charlamagne tha God
Then we have a second microphone in which we communicate with each other.
[18:55]
Leslie Gordon
I feel like that second microphone kind.
[18:57]
Charlamagne tha God
Of saved all of our friendships. No band likes each other after 20 years. Years or 25 years. Like the Beatles broke up in seven and a half years and we're going on 35. Listen to earsay the Audible and iheart audiobook club on the iheartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
[19:23]
DJ Envy
I don't need a license. I don't have to prove that I'm this. I could just go down there and say, hey, this is what I need and I'll be taking care.
[19:29]
Leslie Gordon
You can, you can, like Leslie said, go, go to our website, find a pantry in your area. I would call them, make sure that the hours are, you know, what they're stating, because those things can change, especially around the holidays and so forth. But yeah, we want to make it as minimally invasive as possible, folks, to show up and get the nutritious food that they need.
[19:44]
DJ Envy
Now, what about for immigrants? Are immigrants allowed at this?
[19:47]
Leslie Gordon
Absolutely, 100%.
[19:48]
Zach Hall
No barriers to service. Right. We're not here to judge you good. We're here to help you live your best life. No matter where you come from, no matter when you reach out for support, we're going to be here for you.
[19:58]
Charlamagne tha God
Yeah, just don't cut in line in front of the locals.
[20:04]
Zach Hall
It gets a little rough.
[20:05]
Charlamagne tha God
It gets a little hectic.
[20:06]
Leslie Gordon
Cassini.
[20:07]
Charlamagne tha God
But I know y' all partner with a lot of, you know, pantries and community organizations. What are you hearing from them on the ground that isn't making headlines?
[20:15]
Zach Hall
You know, there was an article, I think it was the New York Times over the weekend and an accompanying video where you see a woman taking a carton of 12 eggs and cutting it in half just so that you can still spread around the resources. And so the demand is super high. You know, what's interesting is I've been in this work nearly 20 years, and we've never seen the amount of people standing online as high as it is today. And so we're having to do more with less. And so that's just another reason why we need everybody who's, who's listening to be in it with us, not only now, but for the long term. But can you imagine that taking a carton of eggs and you got to cut it in half so that this family can have sex and that family can have sex? Yeah, that's not what we want to be doing.
[21:02]
Leslie Gordon
It's also really time intensive, Right. Like thinking about, you know, folks are often telling us at the pantries that folks are lining up, you know, 5, 6 in the morning for a 9 o', clock, 10 o' clock opening. So think like that's a job, right? Like that's a. You're an early, early riser if you're getting to. To a pantry line that early. And I think folks don't recognize that it's really exhausting and time intensive to, to navigate poverty and being in a situation where your Food insecure. You gotta, you know, kind of expend so much energy and time to try and make, you know, basic ends meet.
[21:35]
Zach Hall
What we hear is that people are super stressed, right? Super stressed. It feels demoralizing. You know, people are quick to flare. They're angry, they're. They're frustrated. You know, they, they care about policy, but at the end of the day, it's about feeding themselves and their families. Place.
[21:56]
Leslie Gordon
Yeah. I also think that, you know, folks don't realize that how big of a network that we have is 800 plus food pantries and soup kitchens, but also schools, colleges, healthcare partners, and they really stepped up. Like Leslie's thing during the shutdown, folks were, you know, seeing a lot of above normal demand. But, you know, folks were just there. I'm gonna, we're gonna be here for my communities or community folks, helping each other and being that repository of dignified service where you can get, you know, trusted, nutritious food in your community is really critical. And that's, that's the thing that goes unsung oftentimes. Our, our pantry network of these folks have been doing this for as long as we have. Really. 40 plus years, you know.
[22:39]
Zach Hall
Yeah. I mean, it's. You see everybody on the line. The other day, I was out in the deep part of the South Bronx, which happens to be one of the neediest communities in, in all of New York City. Right. Underserved for years. You know, Morrisinia, Mott Haven, Fordham, Hunts Point, all those communities have been deeply underserved for years. And I love to talk to people on the line. One guy comes up and he said, oh, I'm so excited. Now I'm going to cook this or that. He's imagining what he's going to make with everything that we're giving out. And I said, oh, you like to cook? Tell me about that. He said, yeah, I'm a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America.
[23:18]
Leslie Gordon
Wow.
[23:18]
Zach Hall
I've cooked for some of the best chefs in America. You know, shall remain nameless on your show this morning. But, but he's out there on the line.
[23:26]
Narrator/Announcer
Yeah.
[23:27]
Zach Hall
He said, you know, between jobs, I don't always have enough to be able to feed myself. So I do it. You know, it's everybody you see, it's postal workers, it's, you know, truck drivers, it's teachers. We see a lot of teachers. It's kind of incredible about who's actually hungry.
[23:45]
Charlamagne tha God
You guys are providing on a large scale. There's a lot of people that y' all are getting food to. How do you ensure that the families are being fed quality meals?
[23:55]
Leslie Gordon
Well, this is one of my favorite parts because we have dietitians on staff, so they work with our procurement team to make sure we're bringing in balanced meals, you know, that are culturally relevant but also, you know, whole and minimally processed foods. And I have heard you talk before about nutrition, such an important, important component of, you know, overall health. And we're going to make sure that, you know, we're, we're not reinforcing some of the, you know, chronic health conditions that are plagued by so many communities who are also food insecure. It's like a double edged coin where, you know, your food insecure and you're, you have a diabetes or hypertension or.
[24:31]
Zach Hall
Cancer, heart disease, you're sick.
[24:33]
Leslie Gordon
Yeah.
[24:34]
Zach Hall
Then you gotta take off work to go to the doctor. Then you lose your job because you can't get to work because you're sick and you're out at the doctor too much. It ends up being a vicious cycle and a loop that people find themselves in. It's, it's pretty crazy. Nutritious. Food is really important to us. In addition to getting food that helps you feel seen and that feels like home. You know what's interesting is I think about kids in the Bronx. We saw you out over the summer in the Bronx. Do you know there are kids in our own city who have never had a blueberry? So you know what's interesting is it as a parent, when you have limited resources, you can't afford to make a mistake. Right. And so you've got to choose stuff that you know that your kids are gonna eat. What if, what if they've never had a blueberry before and you don't know if they're going to eat it?
[25:28]
Leslie Gordon
They're not cheap.
[25:28]
Zach Hall
It's not cheap. And so that's also part of what we do is help introduce everyone in New York City, especially kids, to new and different foods that, you know, mom and dad can't afford to make a mistake on. But we're going to make sure that they, they know what a blueberry is all about.
[25:45]
Leslie Gordon
And we've, we've been making really amazing strides towards that end. You know, about 40% of our food that goes out the door is produce or lean protein. Like really making sure that that's a well rounded, balanced plate of food for families.
[25:59]
Zach Hall
Everything that's. And you gotta come see, right, here's my personal invitation this morning because it's, I think it's quite fascinating the magical dance that happens behind the scenes in our incredible facility in the Hunts Point section in the South Bronx every day to make sure that there's food on the plate tonight, for a New Yorker, it's just hats off to our team that picks it up, puts it down, moves it around with such an incredible, heartfelt spirit every single day. Yes. Produce, I would say anything you find in a grocery store is what you're going to find in our inventory. And we're serious. So no cakes, pies, cookies, sugary drinks. That's. That's not what's in our facility.
[26:40]
Leslie Gordon
Yeah.
[26:40]
Charlamagne tha God
Now, I've had some good cookies at the Food bank at the one in Harlem.
[26:43]
DJ Envy
Oh.
[26:44]
Zach Hall
So listen, listen, listen, listen. So she's no joke, right? It's the ginger peach tea. It's those. I call them her slammin chocolate chip cookies. Right. Everybody deserves a treat. We are definitely not the food police. I feel you on that. So, yes, we've got this amazing Harlem kitchen right off of Frederick Douglass Boulevard. We've been there for a lot of years. Chef Sherry and her team spins out nearly 500 hot meals a day with love. And, yeah, those cookies, they're no joke.
[27:18]
Charlamagne tha God
I feel like that, you know, the Food bank for nyc, that's what I love about y' all the most. The passion that y' all actually have. It doesn't feel like, you know, y' all are just doing something for the sake of doing it. It's like everybody there is intentional about the mission. I feel that way.
[27:31]
Leslie Gordon
Yeah. I mean, I've had people on my team have been doing this for 20, 25 years. And so it's, you know, folks that come into the line of business stay at the organization because we love our people and stick around and grow and develop. I've been at food bank for 17 years myself.
[27:47]
Charlamagne tha God
Wow.
[27:48]
Leslie Gordon
Started as a tempo and, you know, kind of came into this. And, you know, Les has been doing this for. For decades as well. So we have is passion. I mean, feeding people, it's basic needs, man. You give somebody a bag, look in the look in their eye and understand that they're going to be better off because of that. That's not enough. Right. That's not enough to. To get people whole. But, you know, it's something that is a tribute to the staff that we have at Food bank, and, yeah. Take it very, very seriously.
[28:13]
Charlamagne tha God
Let me ask you questions, like, what's one story that reminds you why this mission still matters and keeps you motivated?
[28:18]
Leslie Gordon
It's a. It's a. It's an interesting story because it's not always about food. Right. So we have about 60 or so K to 12 pantries. So pantries at schools, elementary, middle, high schools. And you know, with generous funding from city council and other funders, we've been able to do this for, you know, going on 15 years. And part of the, the distribution, some of our pantries includes all the food we've been talking about, but also like some basic needs like hygiene supplies, laundry detergents, soap, shampoo, those types of things, deodorant. And there's this one. I was visiting one of these schools, PS 30 in, in the Bronx, and just asking the parent coordinator, how's it going? She says, oh, you know, like I didn't realize this, but this pantry has had like these other amazing effects. There's one kid in our class, David, he was shy, never really participating middle schooler. And after his family started going to the pantry, he started, you know, being more and more involved in class, participating, raising his hand. It's because he got deodorant and he was concerned that raising his hand in class, you know, we've all been in middle school, man, that's, that's a tough time. You don't be called out as a kid who can be a little funky. So by going to the class, he, he's getting, you know, not only meals been basic needs, but stuff that prepares him.
[29:42]
Commercial Voice
Yeah.
[29:42]
Leslie Gordon
To be a better learner. Essentials. Right. And like that's, that's a, like an incredible story of just like how that, that whole, whole household view can get kids in a better place to be them better self. And she, you know, she was almost in tears telling me how impactful this was for, for them in their school.
[30:01]
Charlamagne tha God
You know, so remember the deal. Remember, raise your hand if you're sure.
[30:04]
DJ Envy
Yeah.
[30:04]
Charlamagne tha God
He was unsure. Right, Right. That was, that was very, that was a very effective commercial.
[30:10]
DJ Envy
Now today is Giving Tuesday. How would you want people to, to go about giving? Is it money? Is it financial? Is it work? Is it all of the above?
[30:17]
Leslie Gordon
It's all the above. Money is the, the, the benefit for us is, is the most powerful way that we can, we can put investments back into our work and in our community. So go to foodbank nyc.org click on donate and learn how you can give. No, no, no gift is too big, no gift is too small. But really that keeps the engines purring across the street delivering all the food that we do.
[30:40]
Zach Hall
It's, you know, it's each one reach one, right? Everybody can find themselves on our journey to empower all new Yorkers for good. And so, yeah. Visit us atfoodbank nyc.org let's make sure that we're helping to fuel better days ahead for all of our New Yorkers.
[31:00]
Leslie Gordon
Absolutely.
[31:01]
DJ Envy
Leslie Gordon, Zach hall, thank you so much for joining us this morning. Make sure you go out and you give a little bit. Give what you can this morning. And thank you so much.
[31:08]
Zach Hall
Appreciate it, guys.
[31:09]
Leslie Gordon
Thank you.
[31:09]
DJ Envy
All right, it's the Breakfast Club. Good morning.
[31:12]
Charlamagne tha God
Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club. Are y' all finished or y' all done?
[31:19]
DJ Envy
What up, y'?
[31:20]
Zach Hall
All?
[31:20]
DJ Envy
It's DJ Envy. You can go anywhere and find clothes, but at JD Sports, you can discover your style. Like, I needed a pair of blue and white sneakers and I couldn't find them anywhere, so I stopped in at JD's. I know what I like and I got it. At JD's. I found a pair of kicks, blue and white. That was exactly what I was looking for. I'm always able to find my style at JD Sports. Discover iconic styles. Now cultivate your look at JD Sports. Head to JD Sports to discover the latest gear to elevate your style. JD Sports forward.
[31:51]
Zach Hall
Janice Torres here, and I'm Austin Hankwitz. We host the podcast Mind the Business, Small Business Success Stories, produced by Ruby Storm Studio in partnership with Intuit QuickBooks.
[32:00]
Janice Torres
We're back for season four to talk.
[32:02]
Commercial Voice
To some incredible small business owners.
[32:04]
Zach Hall
The big thing about working at tech.
[32:05]
Leslie Gordon
Is that it's ever evolving, ever changing.
[32:07]
Charlamagne tha God
Everyone's a rookie. That's how fast the industry is changing. So what I'm really excited about is.
[32:11]
Zach Hall
To be part of that change. So listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
[32:20]
Commercial Voice
Hear that? It's holiday cheer. Arriving at Ulta Beauty with gifts for everyone on your list. Treat them to fan favorite gift sets from Charlotte, Tilbury and Peach and Lily. Go all out with timeless fragrances from ysl, Ariana Grande and Carolina Herrera. And you can never go wrong with an Ulta Beauty gift card. Head to Ulta Beauty for gifts that make the holidays brighter and even more beautiful. Ulta Beauty gifting happens here. Black Friday is here. And Pandora Jewelry is offering up to 40% off storewide and site wide now through December 2nd. Explore jewelry designed to last beyond the season. From classic charms to modern rings, bracelets, earrings and more. Whether you're holiday shopping or treating yourself, now's the perfect time to find something Special. Shop@pandora.net or your local Pandora store. Exclusions apply. New school year, new routines and somehow your calendar is already full. When life gets hectic, Cauley Power's got your back. We make the food you crave made better for you, like thin and crispy cauliflower crust pizzas, all natural chicken tenders and nostalgic pizza snacks ready in minutes and something the whole family can agree on. Caulifower is available in freezer aisles nationwide. Visit eatcaulypower.com to find a store near you.
[33:41]
Narrator/Announcer
This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.

INTERVIEW: Leslie Gordon & Zac Hall Talk NYC Food Bank Programs, Feeding Families + More

INTERVIEW: Leslie Gordon & Zac Hall Talk NYC Food Bank Programs, Feeding Families + More

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

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of Food Insecurity in NYC

2. The "50 Million Meals" Campaign

3. Misconceptions & Real Faces of Hunger

4. Impact of Government Shutdowns

5. Political Frustrations and the Need for Policy Change

6. The Realities Behind Food Distribution

7. The Power and Efficiency of Small Donations

8. Access, Dignity & Inclusivity at Food Pantries

9. Challenges for Pantries and the Community

10. Ensuring Nutrition and Wellbeing

11. The Human Impact and Hidden Stories

12. How Listeners Can Help (Giving Tuesday)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Important Segments

Summary

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

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of Food Insecurity in NYC

2. The "50 Million Meals" Campaign

3. Misconceptions & Real Faces of Hunger

4. Impact of Government Shutdowns

5. Political Frustrations and the Need for Policy Change

6. The Realities Behind Food Distribution

7. The Power and Efficiency of Small Donations

8. Access, Dignity & Inclusivity at Food Pantries

9. Challenges for Pantries and the Community

10. Ensuring Nutrition and Wellbeing

11. The Human Impact and Hidden Stories

12. How Listeners Can Help (Giving Tuesday)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Important Segments

Summary