Hunger Action Network of New York State

Craig Murphey, Community Organizer for Cathedral Community Cares (CCC) and West Harlem Action Network Against Poverty (WHANP), was killed by a truck Oct. 18 while riding his bike in Williamsburg (Brooklyn). He was 26 years old. Craig was a remarkable person whom everyone in the hunger field knew and respected.

Craig started working at the Cathedral in Nov. 2003 as a VISTA volunteer for CCC. His task was to strengthen the work of the Upper
West Side Colloquium Against Poverty, which consisted of 5 EFPs in the Morningside Heights/West Harlem area. One of his projects was the West Harlem Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Project.

Craig knew that his job was not to tell people what to do, but to listen and connect folks, pull resources together and make things happen.

Each week Craig also sent out the “Feed the Solution” newsletter about was going on with social policy issues on hunger and the advocacy work needed for systemic change. He participated in lobby days in Albany and DC. He testified about his own experience with the Food Stamp program in front of the City Council’s welfare committee.

He worked tirelessly to make sure that these small emergency food programs had the tools necessary to do their job as best as possible. This included sending out pleas on “Craigslist” for things like computers, volunteers and materials.

He served as a mentor to many VISTA volunteers at the NYC Coalition Against Hunger. He always took the time to explain to them the projects he was working on and how they could create similar opportunities for others. In his free time he even started a volunteer service to make sure that someone was available to walk women home late at night in his neighborhood.

Craig Murphey’s inspiring personality did not stop with his life. More than a hundred people lit candles and walked in silence along Union Ave. to remember Craig and commemorate his tragic death.

What happened was a tragedy - senseless and unfair. But let us realize how precious life is, and be inspired by Craig’s story to do better in our own lives. Simply by respecting others, always putting a positive spin on things and trying to bea good person, Craig was able to move hundreds of people. (partially from a letter by Raquel Granda)

Kathy Goldman, the founding director of Community Food Resource Center (now FoodChange)
Bill Ayres of World Hunger Year
Betsy Gotbaum NYC Public Advocate read >

Br. Michael Harlan, Siena College-Franciscan Center for Service & Advocacy (Albany)

These are the stories of real people from across New York State who have struggled to move out of poverty with the help of welfare. Many of these individuals are Hunger Action Network members, including Board members. Their experiences, told in their own words, provide evidence of what really helps families and individuals. The Welfare Made A Difference National Campaign seeks to educate the public on the virtues of a fair, supportive social welfare system and the harmful impacts of punitive welfare policies.