Emergency Funding Appeal Due to Loss of Community Food and Nutrition Program funding
 
This 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:

  • Establish a toll-free statewide hunger hotline to connect families with free food at a local soup kitchen or with other food sources,
  • Develop an on-line Emergency Food Program (EFP) directory that allows hungry people to find the closest EFP and receive free emergency food
  • Promote innovative projects
  • Identify local child nutrition programs for those in need, and
  • 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.