As food pantries across the state face an increased demand, the Schenectady County Food Council, local advocates and state Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara gathered at the state Capitol last week to push for more funding to fight food insecurity in this year’s state budget.
Advocates are calling for Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders to include, among other things, $75 million each for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) and Nourish NY funding, which support emergency food programs. They are also pushing for an increase of minimum monthly aid to $100 for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and to pass the “Healthy School Meals for All” bill, which would provide free breakfast and lunch for students at school.
Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam, said the additional funding for the food programs is a “worthy investment” to include in the state’s proposed $233 billion budget. The spending plan is due April 1.
“Some of the individuals have jobs, some of them do have employment, it may not be what you think and it’s just that by the time you pay rent, pay expenses, there’s no money left for food, so they rely on these organizations, which rely on funding for these programs,” Santabarbara said. “ So, we need to make a commitment that we’re going to make sure that food insecurity is not a growing issue, but something we can address — and we can address it in the state budget. It can be addressed, so that’s the point we’re trying to make to the governor.”
Speaking at the press conference at the state Capitol on Tuesday, Schenectady resident Glenda Brooks-Woodson spoke about her experience receiving SNAP benefits, which led her to joining the Schenectady County Food Council.
“I lived in Schenectady for 20-plus years, it’s always important to me to give back to my community. I love my community, I love Schenectady,” Brooks-Woodson said in a statement. “So many good things happen for me here, and this is one of them, being a part of the Schenectady County Food Council. Food scarcity is a big thing across the country and it’s an honor to be a part of the change that’s starting in Schenectady.”
Rev. Dustin Longmire, pastor of Messiah Luther Church in Rotterdam and executive director of the Rotterdam Community Center, said they have around 130 to 140 people arrive at the center each Friday to get fresh produce.
“Right now, in 2024, there is a level of hunger that we haven’t seen in New York since the 1930s,” Longmire said. “It is unprecedented. Due to coming out of COVID, supply shock and given the wars around the world. The thing is, in New York state, we have the power to address these issues and make sure that all New Yorkers — and certainly everyone in Schenectady County — has equitable access to safe, healthy and nutritious meals.”
Food pantries across the country saw a spike of customers during the COVID-19 pandemic and, according to the Food Pantries for the Capital District, those numbers have only continued to increase. In 2023, 82% of its pantry members experienced higher service levels than in 2022. In 2022, drivers delivered more than 3.6 million pounds of food to pantries and provided more than $300,000 in supplemental food funding.
Santabarabara said while volunteering at food pantries, he has seen people show up in the middle of ice storms and freezing rain because they rely on the food provided at the pantries.
“Now it’s my job to make sure they get the funding they need, so they can do what they have to do to support our community and so that’s what the press conference was about,” Santabarbara said. “And I encourage other legislators [to volunteer]. If you haven’t done this, go do it. Go do it and you’ll see it’s happening in your community, too. I don’t think there’s communities that are immune to this.”