Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara and the Schenectady County Food Council recently communicated their support for critical legislative priorities aimed at addressing food insecurity. These include:

• Healthy School Meals For All: Ensuring all students receive breakfast and lunch at no cost every school day.
• Double Up Food Bucks: Enhancing SNAP purchasing power with a dollar-for-dollar match on fruits and vegetables.
• SNAP Minimum Benefit Increase: Guaranteeing a minimum monthly benefit of $100 for SNAP recipients.
• Hunger Prevention Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) and Nourish NY Funding: Increasing funding for emergency food programs to $75 million each.
• Urban Farming Land Initiative Act: Allocating 10% of Land Bank properties for urban farming initiatives.

The press conference aims to shed light on the urgent need for these initiatives and the broader issue of food insecurity in Schenectady County and across New York State. Local advocates will emphasize the critical importance of these measures in moving towards a hunger-free future for all.

WHAT:

Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara and the Schenectady County Food Policy Council is convening with local policymakers, community leaders, and advocates to urge the Governor and State Legislature to prioritize anti-hunger initiatives in the upcoming budget cycle.

WHEN:

Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:

Million Dollar Staircase, New York State Capitol Building

WHO:

• Rev. Dustin Longmire, Pastor, Messiah Lutheran Church, & Executive Director, The Rotterdam Community Center
• Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara, 111th NYS Assembly District
• Councilwoman Carmel Patrick, Schenectady City Council
• Kristi Milligan, Schenectady Foundation
• Glenda Brooks-Woodson, Schenectady County Food Council Advocacy and Empowerment Member
• Natasha Pernicka, Executive Director of The Alliance for a Hunger Free New York and the Food Pantries of the Capital District

In response to the escalating issue of food insecurity in Schenectady County and throughout the state, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara and the Schenectady County Food Policy Council, alongside local leaders and advocates, is rallying for legislative action to ensure consistent, reliable, and equitable access to nutritious food for all residents.