Who We Are
The Interreligious Food Consortium (IFC) is a grassroots organization and a valuable resource in the extensive emergency food network serving the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County. We build relationships to address food insecurity in our community.
With the support of individual, corporate, and faith-based contributors, we receive financial support and collect and distribute thousands of pounds of donated food each year to our affiliated emergency food pantries and programs, free of charge.
Who and What is the IFC?
The Interreligious Food Consortium is a small not-for-profit initially formed in 1982 by six small University Hill churches to address food insecurity of members of their congregations. It grew to a consortium of over 70 pantries at its height in the early 2000’s. Currently we serve approximately 20-30 very small and under-resourced pantries and senior housing, as well as crisis response providers such as case managers, social workers and educators. Although smaller in numbers now due to church closings, consolidations, or pantries lack of volunteers, the IFC continues to make a difference to those we serve. In addition, we are a referral service assisting individuals in locating the nearest food pantry that serves their neighborhood. We also partner with Interfaith Works in addressing the unique needs of the refugee, immigrant and New American populations.
What We Do
The Interreligious Food Consortium serves smaller and under-resourced food pantries, senior housing facilities, social workers, and other providers in the local emergency food network.
During the pandemic, the IFC accepted referrals from the Onondaga County Health Department and expanded its services to provide door-to-door, seven days a week, food deliveries to families in need who were in isolation and quarantine due to COVID-19.
There is an increased need for additional support for hungry families, seniors and kids, and especially New Americans. We have all seen how inflation and escalating food costs are hurting the more vulnerable among us. In Onondaga County, the cost of a "modestly priced meal" - projected as $3.71 - is 31% more than the maximum SNAP benefit. Nationwide, a "modest meal" is projected to cost $3.37, which is 19% above the maximum SNAP benefit (statistics as of 7/13/23, from the Urban Institute/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
