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is an urgent appeal on behalf of anti-hunger work in New York State,
necessitated by the loss of Federal funding.
For the last 23 years, the Hunger
Action Network of New York State, HANNYS, has worked to feed the
hungry and eradicate hunger across NYS. Sadly, the various causes
of food insecurity have not been eliminated and food insecurity
is on the rise.
To add to this problem, the $7 million
budgeted for the Federal Community Food and Nutrition Programs was
zeroed out in this year’s federal budget – so will be
the fate of HANNYS’ respective program unless we are able
to raise $180,000 from private sector resources.
HANNYS has been instrumental in
developing regional coalitions and expanding outreach to low income
communities across NYS. The Community Food and Nutrition Program
(aka CFNP) has helped HANNYS:
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Establish a toll-free statewide hunger hotline to connect families
with free food at a local soup kitchen or with other food sources,
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Develop an on-line Emergency Food Program (EFP) directory that
allows hungry people to find the closest EFP and receive free
emergency food
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Promote innovative projects
- Identify
local child nutrition programs for those in need, and
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Provide technical assistance about public/private resources
With 900,000 New Yorkers turning
to emergency food programs a week, the above CFNP work goes a long
ways to alleviating hunger.
Garden Share in St. Lawrence County,
Youth Farm Stand in Syracuse and Neighbors Together in Brooklyn
are just a few groups that have been assisted by and expressed appreciation
for HANNYS’ work. Enclosed please find their testimonials.
This year, the Harry Chapin Foundation
and the World Hunger Year organization awarded HANNYS - as one of
the 8 recipients out of 105 applicants across the country - for
its accomplish-ments in this area.
We are counting on New Yorkers’ continued generosity to help
those in need by your financial support of HANNYS’ valuable
work.
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