Governor Hochul recently announced the expedited release of $30 million in funding owed to our network of food banks and emergency food providers, along with an additional $65 million in new funding to support New Yorkers during the ongoing government shutdown.

This announcement came as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) froze SNAP funding through November. Following a recent lawsuit, the USDA has agreed to use $4.65 billion in contingency funding to distribute SNAP benefits—yet this is only about half of what’s needed to fully cover November—and delays in benefit allocation are still expected.

We are deeply grateful for the Governor’s leadership and commitment to fighting hunger, which will help our network continue to get food out to our communities. But while the Governor’s support provides essential relief, demand for emergency food remains at record highs—and  even with a partial USDA payment and a $65 million state investment, there is still a significant unfilled gap for SNAP participants. Across the state, our food banks are working tirelessly to get food where it’s needed most during the shutdown. They are identifying communities with high SNAP enrollment to target extra food distributions, expanding mobile and pop-up pantries, and distributing emergency food boxes with information on how to access ongoing support. They are also providing critical assistance to our partner agencies and community-based organizations, ensuring a coordinated response across New York.

We will continue to work closely with state partners to ensure that every New Yorker—no matter where they live—has access to the food they need to thrive. We encourage our network to continue reaching out to their state and federal representatives, detailing the devastation that a loss in SNAP means for our communities and urging them to fund this critical anti-hunger program. Together, we can stand up for our fellow New Yorkers and ensure they have access to the food they need.

Additional resources:

1. Contact your Member of Congress and urge them to fully fund SNAP
2. Need Food? – Feeding New York State.
3. Resources by Phone: dial 211 (or 311 if you live in New York City) or text your zip code to 898-211 for local food assistance resources.
4. NYS Hunger Solutions: Find information about SNAP and other food assistance programs.
5. NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA): for the latest SNAP updates.