Bronx pastor highlights food insecurity at State of the Union
A Bronx pastor is getting national attention after being invited to the State of the Union by Congressman Ritchie Torres, all while continuing to run one of the largest food pantries in the borough.
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A Bronx pastor is getting national attention after being invited to the State of the Union by Rep. Ritchie Torres, all while continuing to run one of the largest food pantries in the borough.
Rev. John Udo-Okon leads the Word of Life International food pantry. He says the pantry serves more than 5,000 people each week.
Torres said the pastor is operating one of the largest food pantries in the Bronx and brought him to Washington to highlight the growing crisis of hunger locally.
Torres mentioned recent cuts to SNAP benefits and Medicaid, which many Bronx families rely on. Udo-Okon said the demand keeps growing and isn't expected to slow down any time soon.
"Food insecurity continues to be a serious crisis in our community," Udo-Okon said. "We need to find resources to support food programs like ours."
Torres said his office donated $500,000 to the food pantry, and he will continue to find ways to help out.
