ANNUAL REPORT
20
22
A letter from the Executive Director
In 2022 POTS celebrated its 40th anniversary of fighting poverty and hunger in The Bronx. We have kept the promise of our founders to be a kind and loving community while constantly increasing the number of people we serve and expanding our services beyond food security.
We partner with our clients to empower them to reach their full potential. Every day, they show us their resilience, their aspiration for a better future, and the incredible things they can achieve when they are given a chance.
In 2022, POTS served more than 37,000 people as the Bronx continued to have the highest poverty rate in New York City. Our neighborhood continues to be a haven for immigrants seeking better, safer lives. Most of our clients have incomes well below the poverty level. Daily, they confront the hard choice of paying for rent or food, among other expenses. They also face unique challenges of accessing government benefits that could help improve their situation.
Very early in the morning, even on cold winter days, the line of clients waiting for our food pantry to open shows how much people depend on us to fight food insecurity. Every afternoon, members of our community sit down with us and share a hot meal in our Community Dining Room.
Some come to us because of the food, and, after a few visits, they open up to our staff about the true nature of their circumstances. One of our most vulnerable clients who found himself facing homelessness recently said “what POTS offers is unique.” And he is not alone in this opinion, as many of our clients come to us on a regular basis thanks to the hard work, dedication and a dignifying approach from our staff. We do not see our clients as case files or numbers. We see our clients as individuals, as they are and as they want to be.
Since opening 40 years ago, POTS has relied on its loyal donors, hardworking and caring volunteers, and charitable partners to deliver the best services available. I am profoundly grateful for all of our supporters and their abiding generosity.
Now, I look forward to continuing to lead our community to help everyone who comes to our door find the services they want and need. I am so proud that POTS’ loving-kindness has opened the doors for so many neighbors to turn from clients to thriving partners in our common fight against poverty and hunger.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
POTS Impact in 2022
Meals
Provided through lunch service and pantry.
People served
in economic value to the
community
- POTS’ programs delivered $36,135,000 in value to our community which is $6.20 for every dollar spent.
- We prevented evictions of 253 households and obtained more than $3,500,000 to pay overdue rent.
- We provided more than 3,200,200 nourishing meals.
- We served more than 37,000 clients helping them and their families move out of crisis towards stability
“I want to be here and want to continue helping this community.”
An Asylum Seeker Finds POTS
Manuel, age 26, lived in Latin America where he faced severe economic challenges and food insecurity. So, with a few dollars in his pocket, he set out on foot and entered the US seeking asylum as a solution to his family’s problems. In a temporary shelter in the Bronx, some people tried to talk him into paying $300 to find a more permanent home. On top of that, he fell, broke his big toe, and after emergency surgery, was billed $68,000 for care since he had no insurance.
When he came to POTS, we helped him with no thought of repayment. We helped him get housing, an identification card, medical insurance, winter clothes, and access to other personal items. We continued to help pay his phone bills so that he could talk with his immigration advisors.
In his own words: “God willing you will never have to face anything I have had to endure. POTS’ support is a blessing. You have to understand that even the smallest of things can change someone’s life.”
POTS’ Support Is Life Changing
Maria, age 53, with grown children was working in North Carolina when she learned her father had a young son with special needs. She took custody and when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she lost her job and came to New York with her brother to get better schools for him. For the first time, she needed public assistance and was very frustrated in applying for benefits.
She came to POTS for help where our team supported her with some of her most urgent needs, including finding a school for her brother, and eventually helped move from the shelter system into a new apartment. Now Maria is focusing on a better future for her and her brother by taking classes to qualify as a family caregiver.
She says POTS made the difference, “it means the world for people like me who had nothing. POTS’ support is life changing.”
Learn more about Maria’s story here.
“I want to be here and want to continue helping this community.”
On the Path to a
Better Life
Monica and her husband came to NYC from Ecuador seeking education for their two children and healthcare for their daughter, who suffers from delicate medical conditions. Monica knew very little English and had a hard time communicating with others.
While her husband worked in construction, she first visited POTS and started to work with our Stability Mentor who found learning opportunities for her kids and brought her into our ESOL classes.
Monica now feels fully confident to talk in English with her daughter’s teachers, as well as with their medical providers to attend to her special needs.
As recent migrants, Monica and her husband are putting all their efforts into ensuring their children will be able to go to college, and they will continue to work hard with our staff to make sure they can secure a better future for their family.
Looking Ahead – Expanding Services
In 2023, POTS opened our center at 2450 Grand Concourse to help more clients develop work skills and earning power with a focus on preparing for jobs in growing industries. In partnership with The HOPE Program, we connect our clients with education and training opportunities, job fairs, and resources to improve their job readiness. And our Legal Services team now has room to grow and help more clients with housing issues.
At the same time, POTS Webster Avenue is expanding its pantry as the number of clients doubled since quarantine and continues growing. Plus, clients will be able to go back to a self-selection model in the new and larger pantry space.
Our Webster Avenue renovation also offers more privacy for client conversations about Long Term Stability Services and a new outdoor area behind the building to host events for our community.
Financials
Thanks to the support of our donors, we maintained a strong financial position throughout 2022. Our commitment to using donated funds efficiently has paid off in low-management and fundraising costs.
REVENUE
| Individuals & Community Groups | $1,318,355 | |
| Government | $1,526,629 | |
| Foundations & Corporations | $2,102,752 | |
| Special Events | $864,415 | |
| In-kind | $1,225,317 | |
| Other | $34,707 | |
| TOTAL REVENUES | $7,072,175 |
EXPENSES
| Food security program | $3,341,379 | |
| Long Term Stability Program | $2,408,386 | |
| Dignity and Wellness Program | $317,908 | |
| Management and general | $629,107 | |
| Fundraising | $748,603 | |
| TOTAL EXPENSES | $7,445,365 |
PART OF THE SOLUTION AND AFFILIATE AUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
| ASSETS | 2021 |
|---|---|
| ASSETS | 2022 |
| Cash and cash equivalent | $8,970,712 |
| Restricted cash | $2,189,091 |
| Investments | $248,184 |
| Contributions and grants receivable | $749,944 |
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | $92,502 |
| Right of use assets, operating leases | $34,801 |
| Property and equipment, net | $5,893,719 |
| ASSETS | $19,326,042 |
| LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS | 2021 |
|---|---|
| LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS | 2022 |
| LIABILITIES | |
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $245,478 |
| Deferred revenue | $410,001 |
| Operating lease liabilities | $34,909 |
| LIABILITIES | $690,388 |
| NET ASSETS | 2021 |
|---|---|
| NET ASSETS | 2022 |
| WITHOUT DONOR RESTRICTIONS | |
| Undesignated | $14,018,001 |
| Board designated for capital campaign | $1,650,000 |
| Total net assets without donor restrictions | $15,668,001 |
| With donor restrictions | $2,967,653 |
| NET ASSETS | $18,635,654 |
| LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS | $19,326,042 |
PART OF THE SOLUTION AND AFFILIATE AUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
| OPERATING REVENUE WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS | |
|---|---|
| OPERATING REVENUE WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS | 2022 |
| Contributions | $1,070,154 |
| Government Grants | $1,879,289 |
| Foundations and corporate contributions | $827,296 |
| Special events, net of expenses | $1,319,647 |
| In-kind contributions | $1,255,081 |
| Investment income | ($37,556) |
| Miscellaneous income | $9,636 |
| OPERATING REVENUE WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS | $6,323,547 |
| OPERATING REVENUE WITH RESTRICTIONS | |
|---|---|
| OPERATING REVENUE WITH RESTRICTIONS | |
| Contributions | $85,798 |
| Government Gifts | $78,350 |
| Foundations and corporate contributions | $1,283,883 |
| OPERATING REVENUE WITH RESTRICTIONS | $1,362,233 |
| Expenses | |
|---|---|
| EXPENSES | |
| Food security program | $3,341,379 |
| Long Term Stability Program | $2,408,386 |
| Dignity and Wellness Program | $317,908 |
| Management and general | $629,107 |
| Fundraising | $748,603 |
| EXPENSES | $7,445,365 |
| CHANGE IN NET ASSETS | |
|---|---|
| CHANGE IN NET ASSETS | |
| Change in net assets | $326,213 |
| Net Assets released from restriction | $1,905,139 |
| Change in net assets with donor restriction | ($457,108) |