Food Bank of the Southern Tier.
Strengthening The Root
of Local Hunger Relief.
ADVOCACY CENTER
The Advocacy Center serves to educate people about the personal, political and social issues related to hunger
*** LEGISLATIVE ALERT ***
(posted February 26, 2013)
The Program
Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) funding is one of the primary sources of funding for the Food Bank of the Southern Tier and its network of hunger-relief member agencies, like food pantries and soup kitchens. The Food Bank allocates HPNAP funds to cover the cost of food for member agencies as well as provides grants to help offset the cost of staffing, operations and equipment.
The Problem
On January 22, Governor Cuomo proposed a decrease in funding and a major restructuring of NYS health and anti-hunger programs. If approved, the budget would remove HPNAP as a directly funded line-item, and transition it into a “Maternal, Child Health & Nutrition” block grant category, creating potential competition among human service providers. Governor Cuomo has proposed a $13 million overall cut to these critical programs.
Our Request
Restore dedicated, line-item funding for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) at no less than the amount approved in fiscal year 2013 ($29 million).
We Need Your Help! Contact your local NYS Senator and Assemblyman and let them know how critical the program is to your agency and ask them to help restore dedicated, line-item funding for HPNAP at no less than the amount approved in FY2013.
**Please take 2 minutes to click on this link. It was created by the Food Bank for NYC and will send an automatic e-mail to our legislators urging that they restore line item funding for HPNAP.
Click here for more information and specific talking points.
Map the Meal Gap 2012
New Report: Children at Risk of Hunger in Every County in the United States
Nearly 24,000 Children Across the Southern Tier May Not Know Where They Will Find Their Next Meal
The Food Bank of the Southern Tier and Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, released a new study, “Map the Meal Gap 2012: Child Food Insecurity,” providing a detailed look at children under 18 years in food insecure households. The study reveals that there are children struggling with hunger in every county in America. Nationally, while one in six Americans overall are food insecure, the rate for children is much higher: nearly one in five children are food insecure.
By providing the information at a county level, agencies and civic leaders can assess where the need is greatest to help feed the more 16 million children nationwide who are at risk of hunger. In 2011, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier received 1,308,651 requests for food with 562,547 being from children. The new study estimates that nearly 24,000 children, or 20% of the population under 18 years old, are struggling with food insecurity across the Food Bank’s six county service area including Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins.
Click here to view the Map the Meal Gap maps
Click on the links below for information on hunger-relief advocacy issues in the media.
Governor Cuomo declared that no child should go hungry in New York State
Kirsten Gillibrand Launches 2012 With a Call for Increased Food Stamp Money, Better Access to Fresh Food
Take Action in our Community
Thank Governor Cuomo
Please take a moment to thank Governor Cuomo for his commitment to addressing hunger. Tell him:
- Thank you for increasing funding to the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program.
- Thank you for committing to end finger printing of food stamp applicants and recipients.
Click here to send Governor Cuomo an email message.
Contact Your Elected Officials
You can help our efforts to address hunger by writing letters to elected officials; making calls to elected officials;
and participating in outreach activities through the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, our member agencies and other organizations.
Contact your State Representative
Contact your Senators
Contact the White House
For more information contact:
Missy Goetschius, Community & Public Relations Manager
at 607.796.6061 x4023 or email
