Maximize Social Supports for Communitites in Need
School Participation in the Tiered Engagement Network
Food Bank For New York City has a robust network that includes more than 1,000 member programs,
such as schools, food pantries, and soup kitchens. While each have different capacities, all have the
potential to work together to meet the needs of their community. To support this collaborative work,
Food Bank developed Tiered Engagement Network (TEN), which utilizes neighborhood-level
partnerships to create more efficient service networks to reduce poverty in New York City.
Maximizing benefits and resources for families and communities
TEN helps put resources where they are needed most by connecting eligible New Yorkers to services that they
might be missing out on. Research demonstrates that:
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About 30% of New Yorkers who are eligible for SNAP benefits (food stamps) do not participate. Nearly
$1 billion dollars go missing from the food budgets of New Yorkers in need annually.
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Each year 1 in 5 eligible tax filers do not claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Each year, millions of
dollars go unclaimed by eligible low-income workers in New York City.
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Both SNAP benefits and EITC have an added benefit for low income communities: for every dollar
received for these programs, roughly $1.70 is spent locally – one of the best ways to increase economic
activity in low income communities.
Through neighborhood collaboration, TEN connects low-income families and individuals to SNAP benefits and
free tax preparation services, improving households’ economic stability. And when these other benefits run
out, TEN also works to connect struggling families to the Food Bank’s network of emergency food providers.
Getting involved in TEN
Through Food Bank’s partnership with the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and its Community Learning
Schools (CLS) Initiative, we are focused on incorporating schools into existing TEN communities citywide this
year, to both expand and strengthen services offered within YOUR communities.
Beginning in January, Food Bank plans to work with each CLS school to place and support you at the most
basic level of TEN engagement – as an Outreach Site. Positioning you as a crucial partner in reaching needy
clients in your neighborhood, your school will be provided with outreach material to distribute to your clients
and community members. Page 2 provides an overview of the staff, time, space and technology needs, as
well as overall picture of the different TEN levels.
Food Bank For New York City – Tiered Engagement Network
www.foodbanknyc.org/our-programs/ten
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Maximize Social Supports for Communitites in Need
School Participation in the Tiered Engagement Network
Outreach Site Responsible for distributing outreach material to their clients and community.
Common participation expectations for Outreach Sites are:
 Staff – At least one (1) staff member or volunteer to
o Liaise with Food Bank
o Receive training in TEN, and benefits available in Network
o Interact with community members and potential clients
 Time – Two to three (2-3) hours per month
o Regularly distribute outreach material (can be paired with other school events/services)
o Attend Network Regroup meetings that occur once every 2 months
 Space
o Storage space to hold outreach materials (small boxes of fliers and posters)
o Display space to offer outreach materials and hang posters
 Technology – Computer with email access and phone
Potential Service Opportunities – these are options that your school can implement:
 Mail-in Food Stamp Applications (MARU)
 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
 Metro-cards to reimburse clients’ travel to Anchor Site appointments
 Advocacy and policy engagement
Food Bank For New York City Provides on-going support, leadership and resources via:
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Project Management
Training
Technical support
Data collection and monitoring
Capacity-Building
On-going meeting and communication
Food Bank For New York City – Tiered Engagement Network
www.foodbanknyc.org/our-programs/ten
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