A nonprofit organization in the heart of Manhattan is fueling careers and feeding those in need. EV Loves NYC, or East Village for short, is a community-based initiative that aims to provide support services to New Yorkers struggling with food insecurity.
According to operations manager Diamy Bah, the sense of pride she feels at the end of each day stems from knowing she's made a difference in people's lives. "It's like a family now," she says, describing the close-knit community that has formed around EV Loves NYC. Many regulars return not only for the food but also to be part of this supportive environment.
The organization operates two distinct programs: on Sundays, its community commissary kitchen at the Lower East Side Girls Club serves between 2,000 and 2,500 meals, while Monday through Friday it runs Cafewal, a job training program that equips individuals with skills needed to work in restaurants and beyond. The latter focuses on providing long-term employability skills.
EV Loves NYC's founders see New York as a sanctuary city, where people are drawn both to escape their pasts and find new opportunities. However, the organization argues that this perception needs to be more than just a slogan; it must be reflected in the policies and actions of those who call the city home.
Since its inception in 2020, EV Loves NYC has achieved remarkable success, serving over 675,000 hot meals and distributing nine million pounds of groceries to New York City households. This milestone is a testament to the organization's commitment to providing not only sustenance but also support and empowerment to those who need it most.
At its core, EV Loves NYC is about creating a welcoming community that celebrates diversity and provides opportunities for growth and development. As communications director Ann Shields so eloquently puts it, "It was that way for me, a sanctuary city... the city needs to be a more welcoming place."
According to operations manager Diamy Bah, the sense of pride she feels at the end of each day stems from knowing she's made a difference in people's lives. "It's like a family now," she says, describing the close-knit community that has formed around EV Loves NYC. Many regulars return not only for the food but also to be part of this supportive environment.
The organization operates two distinct programs: on Sundays, its community commissary kitchen at the Lower East Side Girls Club serves between 2,000 and 2,500 meals, while Monday through Friday it runs Cafewal, a job training program that equips individuals with skills needed to work in restaurants and beyond. The latter focuses on providing long-term employability skills.
EV Loves NYC's founders see New York as a sanctuary city, where people are drawn both to escape their pasts and find new opportunities. However, the organization argues that this perception needs to be more than just a slogan; it must be reflected in the policies and actions of those who call the city home.
Since its inception in 2020, EV Loves NYC has achieved remarkable success, serving over 675,000 hot meals and distributing nine million pounds of groceries to New York City households. This milestone is a testament to the organization's commitment to providing not only sustenance but also support and empowerment to those who need it most.
At its core, EV Loves NYC is about creating a welcoming community that celebrates diversity and provides opportunities for growth and development. As communications director Ann Shields so eloquently puts it, "It was that way for me, a sanctuary city... the city needs to be a more welcoming place."
. I've seen pics of this place and it's seriously beautiful inside. They're really doing something special here. I'm all about community-driven initiatives like EV Loves NYC - it's so heartwarming to see ppl coming together like that. The fact that they have a job training program too is super inspiring. It shows that they're not just giving food, but also trying to create lasting change in people's lives 
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. What impresses me is how they're not just serving food, they're building a community that's got everyone's back. It's amazing to see how it's become a second home for so many people, especially on Sundays when the commissary kitchen is in full swing 
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. It's not just about policies, it's about showing up for each other and making a difference in people's lives 
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theyre always talkin about makin a difference but what about all the evictions and gentrification goin on in nyc? seems like a bunch of people are just gettin by, not really buildin any real community. EV Loves NYC might be doin some good, but its also just part of the problem - theyre only servin food to those who need it most, what about the rest of us? 
, they're like, so passionate about making a difference in their community. I mean, who wouldn't want to help people struggling with food insecurity and give them a chance to better themselves? The way Diamy Bah talks about the sense of pride she feels after a long day is so inspiring 
. And it's not just about giving food, they're teaching skills that'll help ppl get jobs and become self-sufficient 
. I wish more orgs like this would take note and step up their game 
. The founders are right, NYC needs to be a place where everyone feels welcome and has access to resources. It's time for the city to put its money where its mouth is 
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this org is doing amazing work in NYC, 675k hot meals served since 2020? that's crazy 
and they're not just feeding people, they're giving them skills too 
for a city as big as NYC it's inspiring to see ppl coming together like this 
. It's not just about feeding people, it's about giving them a chance to become more than what they were before.
. I'm not even kidding, it's like they're the real MVPs. And I love how they're not just serving food, but also giving people skills to work and stuff. It's like, they want to empower them, you know? 
they're on track to serve over 2.5 million meals this year alone... can you imagine the impact of a city-wide food insecurity program? 
I'm seriously considering volunteering my skills to help them out... do anyone know how to get involved with EV Loves NYC? 
I mean, think about it, they're only operating now because of all the "food insecurity" and whatnot. It's like, what's really going on here? 
! The fact that people are coming back not only for meals but also to feel supported and part of something bigger is really inspiring. It's awesome that they're focusing on job training too - it shows they care about people's long-term well-being, not just a hot meal 
climate change is real and we're just ignoring it. like, EV Loves NYC is doing amazing work but let's not forget about the bigger picture... 675k meals ain't gonna save us from the impending doom 
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