As New Yorkers prepare for their holiday meals this Thanksgiving, local leaders are shedding light on the crisis of food insecurity in the city, saying hundreds of thousands of people have trouble affording food. 

"There are literally, literally people who cannot afford food to feed themselves and their families. That should be astonishing to anyone who hears that, and everybody should be doing everything they can to stop it,” said Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. 

Food insecurity for New Yorkers has gotten worse over the last few years, according to a report by Hunger Free America. 

The report estimated that between 2018 and 2020, nearly 400,000 Brooklyn residents were food insecure. 

That data also named the Bronx as the city’s hungriest borough, with one in four residents experiencing food insecurity. 

"People are hungry in New York City, in New York state, and the United States of America. That should not be happening. Period,” said Williams. 

As food insecurity remains a problem, the nonprofit Masbia Soup Kitchen is working to combat hunger, responding to a 500% increase in demand since the start of the pandemic. 

"People make an appointment, they get a chance to make an appointment once in seven days and they get free food for their family. People come day and night, just constantly digital bread line here,” said executive director at Masbia, Alexander Rapaport. 

The report shows that federal aid during the pandemic leads to a 56% drop in food insufficiency. 

Officials say they are hoping help for New Yorkers will come soon.