The following was excerpted from the Thanksgiving statement by Archbishop Dolan in which he announced the Feed Our Neighbors Campaign.

I am proposing one specific initiative for our Catholic community that I hope might inspire others to do likewise. I am calling on every Catholic institution in the Archdiocese of New York—our parishes, schools, charitable institutions and other organizations—to join the Feed Our Neighbors Campaign and dedicate the last week of January, from January 22 to January 29, 2012—Sunday to Sunday—to increasing the supply of food available to feed hungry New Yorkers. Through a collection of either money or food goods, I am asking that we increase our efforts to ensure that New Yorkers who are hungry have enough to get by. As I do this, I want to recognize and praise the generous and dedicated work that our Catholic parishes and organizations—along with many others—are already doing. Without these efforts our current crisis would be much worse. This initiative cannot resolve the problem for it is impossible to make up all the reductions in resources. However, the fact that we cannot do everything is not an excuse to do nothing.
In addition, I am asking Msgr. Kevin Sullivan (executive director of Catholic Charities in the archdiocese) to work together with his colleagues, other food providers and government officials to see if there are ways we can develop together to better provide food to our hungry neighbors.

I end by borrowing from the Prophet Isaiah:

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen;

Is it not to share your food with the hungry

And to provide the poor wanderer with shelter;

When you see the naked, to clothe them,

And not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

And your healing will quickly appear;

Then your righteousness will go before you,

And the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
[Isaiah 58]