{"id":14810,"date":"2025-05-14T17:03:54","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T17:03:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/new-york\/?p=14810"},"modified":"2025-05-14T17:06:39","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T17:06:39","slug":"photos-and-video-no-kid-hungry-and-schools-first-deputy-chancellor-honored-nyc-hunger-heroesand-food-education-champs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/new-york\/photos-and-video-no-kid-hungry-and-schools-first-deputy-chancellor-honored-nyc-hunger-heroesand-food-education-champs\/","title":{"rendered":"NO KID HUNGRY AND SCHOOLS FIRST DEPUTY CHANCELLOR HONORED \u201cNYC HUNGER HEROES\u201dAND FOOD EDUCATION CHAMPS"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n

CONTACT<\/strong>: Kayla McCullough, kmccullough@rubenstein.com<\/a>, 214-794-0886<\/p>\n

PHOTOS AND VIDEO: NO KID HUNGRY AND SCHOOLS FIRST DEPUTY CHANCELLOR HONORED \u201cNYC HUNGER HEROES\u201dAND FOOD EDUCATION CHAMPS <\/strong><\/p>\n

After feeding nearly 1 million NYC students each day, dedicated cafeteria workers and educators are recognized for going above and beyond<\/em><\/p>\n

Photos and B-Roll can be found <\/em>here<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

NEW YORK <\/strong>\u2013 On Monday, No Kid Hungry New York joined Schools First Deputy Chancellor Dan Weisberg to recognize 38 \u201cNYC Hunger Heroes\u201d and Food Education Champions \u2013 extraordinary professionals in City schools who have gone above and beyond to serve 800,000 nutritious meals to students every day. Cafeteria workers from each school district and food program staff received awards for going above and beyond to fight child hunger.<\/p>\n

These 38 workers, dedicated cafeteria staff who directly serve 800,000 meals to students every day, are on the frontlines of combating hunger in New York City Public Schools. For the second year, the 2025 honorees included 14 food education champions that educate students on how to make nutritious choices and develop lifelong healthy habits.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Hunger Heroes include District 26\u2019s Francisco Rodriguez, who stepped up during an unexpected gas outage to provide kids with hot, nutritious meals at MS 67, and District 29\u2019s Edward Artemus, who teaches his PS 176 students the importance of composting and recycling in the cafeteria.<\/p>\n

No Kid Hungry New York\u2019s 2025 poll<\/a> showed worrying signs of hunger rising in the city, with 52 percent of households reporting taking on additional debt due to the rising cost of food. With more than 270,000 children in New York City facing hunger\u2014one in four kids\u2014these heroes who plan, prepare and serve school meals, are on the front lines of the City\u2019s hunger crisis.<\/p>\n

\u201cDedicated cafeteria staff can change the lives of hundreds of kids in a school each day. They often know each student\u2019s name and favorite foods, and provide a friendly face alongside a nutritious meal,\u201d said Rachel Sabella, Director of No Kid Hungry New York.<\/strong> \u201cThese awards are our way of recognizing those Hunger Heroes who go above and beyond, oftentimes behind the scenes, to feed students – and the lifelong impact they\u2019re having on our families and our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom feeding our communities during the pandemic to making sure our youngest New Yorkers have nutritious meals, our food service workers are some of the most dedicated individuals in our city,\u201d said\u00a0Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos<\/strong>. \u201cI am honored to have the chance to celebrate today\u2019s hunger heroes, and I thank them on behalf of school communities across the city for their dedication to our students.”<\/p>\n

School meal programs play a critical role in ensuring kids get three healthy meals a day while also helping families stretch their food budget. In 2017, New York City expanded no-cost school meals to all students in all schools.<\/p>\n

2025 NYC Hunger Heroes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Manhattan<\/strong><\/p>\n