Feeding New York State, on behalf of our 10 member food banks and in collaboration with nearly 3,000 pantries, shelters, and community-based organizations, applauds Governor Hochul’s investment in initiatives that ensure New Yorkers have access to food in the Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget.

The Governor’s proposed $72.8 million investment in HPNAP and $55 million for Nourish NY will strengthen the core infrastructure of food assistance in New York. Even with that step forward, demand for emergency food remains exceptionally high and we continue to urge that both Nourish New York and HPNAP be funded at $75 million each to adequately meet growing need.

We commend the Governor’s proposal for the NY Plates Initiative, which will be an important complementary effort that promotes capacity building for food banks and pantries statewide.

Additionally, we support investing directly in New Yorkers through funding programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). We are glad to see support of the EBT chip cards to combat SNAP theft.

Every New Yorker deserves to have access to wholesome food. We are mobilizing alongside our member food banks and partners to fight hunger statewide. We will continue to advocate for Nourish New York to be funded at $75 million and for the Governor’s HPNAP allocation be maintained or increased to $75 million in the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget.