Response to the FY 2024 NYS Budget
The 2024 NYS Budget stagnates essential food purchasing funding for community food providers amid drastic increases in food prices
which will lead to an $8.2 million loss of purchasing power while we experience record service levels
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Policymakers
- Allocate discretionary funds to projects that connect communities to resources (Such as the Food Connect Map)
- Statewide – Prioritize community food providers (food pantries) in budget conversations increasing HPNAP and Nourish NY funding
- Nationally – support TEFAP and priority SNAP legislation in the 2023 Farm Bill
Community Members
- Share this resource and your priorities with your representatives
- Find your local community food provider and see what they need
- Donate
- Volunteer
- Organize a food drive
“We have seen a significant increase in the need for food assistance – both in the number of new families asking for our service and in the number of times per month already registered families are asking for additional service.”
Marcia Dudden, Living Hope UMC Food Pantry, Waterford, NY
“We are also seeing people with jobs, even two parents in the household are working, and they have to turn to food pantries for help.”
Minnie Torres, State Street Pantry, Schenectady
“Over the last months and year, as the funding was eliminated, inflation and economic uncertainty continued. LifeWorks is now seeing a demand for our pantry services 3x the level it was pre-pandemic.“
Angelo Calbone, Ballston Spa, Saratoga County Lifeworks Food Pantry
“We had food for 750 families, and we had around 830 families show up.”
Mark Emanatian, Executive Director, CDALF
“We’ve had pantries and meal sites run out of food for the first time ever at the end of [February] because so many people came [to the pantries].”
Les Aylesworth, Director of CHOW, Broome County Council of Churches
“We are not seeing the amount and quality of produce that we used to get only a year or so ago.”
Ken Moritz, Managing Director, Faith Food Pantry, Rexford
