Ahead of Thanksgiving Holiday, Governor Hochul Announces $27.5 Million to Feed New Yorkers in Need

Funding Will Be Awarded To 11 Food Bank Organizations to Provide Resources for Low-Income Communities and Support New York Farmers

Governor Hochul Signed Legislation To Create Permanent 'Nourish NY' Program, Which Has Delivered Nearly 100 Million Meals To New Yorkers In Need 

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $27.5 million in additional funding toward the New York State Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) and Nourish New York (Nourish NY) programs. This funding will be awarded to eleven food security organizations which support a network of more than 2,600 New York State food pantries, soup kitchens and shelter sites that are particularly busy during the holiday season. Together, they will provide nearly 400 million emergency meals to assist those in need annually, while providing a boost to New York farmers.

"As families gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, we know some may need a little extra help to put food on the table — that's why these investments are so critical," Governor Hochul said. "New Yorkers always help our neighbors when they're in a tough spot, and our efforts to provide food for those in need will deliver more than 400 million meals in the coming months."

Funding has been made available to the following organizations as part of an initiative partnering with the State Department of Health and the State Department of Agriculture and Markets to assist New York State residents and farmers:

• Food Bank for New York City
• Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, Inc.
• FeedMore WNY, Inc.
• Catholic Charities Food Bank of the Southern Tier
• Food Bank of Central New York
• Feeding Westchester, Inc.
• Long Island Cares, Inc
• Island Harvest, LTD
• City Harvest
• United Way of New York City
• Foodlink, INC.

These organizations will distribute funding to more than 2,600 sites as sub-awards for food assistance services, or as direct allocations of additional food. This includes purchasing additional food, produced by New York State farmers, for their emergency food assistance member agencies.

Food banks will be able to use these to host food assistance activities, including popular distribution programs run during the holiday season.

In addition, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets administers the federally funded New York Food for New York Families program, providing nearly $50 million to partner food banks and food service organizations to implement projects that purchase New York-grown food products and distribute them to underserved communities. It also provides technical assistance to help growers sell into the New York Food for New York Families program.

On the Department of Health website, you can find more information on the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON THE POSSIBLE FEDERAL RECEIVERSHIP OVER CITY JAILS

 

"The court has given the city and this administration numerous opportunities to follow recommendations of the monitor. Yet the city has shown again and again that it is unwilling or unable to make meaningful change on Rikers Island. This administration has insisted it can do so with bluster and arrogance, yet has never earned the confidence of New Yorkers. 

"The administration has refused to implement measures earnestly or put forth a plan that would mitigate the crisis. With a federal receivership now likely, I am cautiously hopeful that a new approach can bring real reforms and help protect people on both sides of the bars.”

"Even as it seems necessary, I don’t celebrate this development — receivership is not a panacea, and comes with many of its own challenges, particularly in light of the incoming presidential administration. It is critical that any new oversight of the city’s jail systems is guided by a task force of advocates and experts who have long been involved in that work, and in developing solutions to failing systems, rather than trying to maintain them. It is just as critical that receivership helps accelerate, rather than impede, the moral and legal obligation to finally close Rikers. Ultimately, the most lasting way to prevent the harm on Rikers will be to close it down."

New Yorkers for Parks - Mayor Adams leaves Parks high and dry, again.

 

No Restorations for NYC Parks in Latest City Budget Modification

Last week, Mayor Adams ignored the pleas of thousands of New Yorkers calling for the restoration of NYC Parks cuts. At a time when city parks are literally burning, the mayor's refusal to restore agency resources is a slap in the face to the New Yorkers who rely on these essential spaces and the Parks workers struggling to maintain them. By failing to provide basic services and staffing for NYC Parks, the mayor is endangering New Yorkers and weakening communities. These austerity measures prevent the filling of urgently needed positions, including Parks Enforcement Patrol officers, Natural Resources Group staff, and city park workers, who ensure our parks are safe, clean, and accessible. The Play Fair Coalition is outraged by this administration’s irresponsible disinvestment in our city’s parks system. In response, we are doubling down on our efforts and mobilizing advocates citywide. We can't do it without you—stay tuned for opportunities to take action in the coming weeks. Read the full Play Fair statement NY4P and Play Fair in the News Hell Gate: Parks Funding Drought Continues (November 25, 2024) Brooklyn Eagle: Adams' refusal to restore Parks budget infuriates advocates (November 25, 2024) Gothamist: Parks funding stalled in Mayor Adams' budget update, as fires plague green spaces (November 23, 2024) WNYC: NYC Now Podcast w/ Council Member Justin Brannan (November 21, 2024) The Chief: Budget cuts a factor in brush fire flurry, parks workers and advocates say (November 29, 2024) Since 1908, NY4P has protected and promoted open space across the city. Today we're the only independent non-profit championing quality open space for all New Yorkers.  NY4P is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization, All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.