Food Bank And COVID Vaccine Mobile Van Coming To Lincoln Center

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, in partnership with Food Bank for New York City, is once again hosting a free food bank on the Upper West Side — but this time you can also get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The event, which will feature performances by the Duke Ellington Ensemble from the Julliard School, will kick off Wednesday at 11 a.m. and last until 4 p.m. Lincoln Center is located at West 62nd Street between Amsterdam and Columbus.

Volunteers will hand out shelf-stable pantry bags, fresh produce, and menstrual care products for up to 500 households. The food distribution event is sponsored by Disney and WABC.

The event will have more than just food as all eligible people can also get a COVID-19 from the NYC Mobile Vaccine Bus — no appointments needed.

According to an email about the event from Lincoln Center, as of March 2021, nearly 480,000 New York City residents are unemployed, and nearly 1.6 million residents are not projected to experience food insecurity. It's the highest projected food insecurity rate in the city in the last decade.

You can learn more about the event and the organizations involved on Lincoln Center's website.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.