Reading the recent Robinhood Poverty Tracker (https://lnkd.in/exxupadv) we see that overall poverty rates have climbed to 23% in NYC( as opposed to 12% nationally). This is sad news that is even more troubling when we see the recently passed NY state budget. TRUTH: The NY state budget will exacerbate hunger in NY state. HPNAP increased by 2.3 % which is a net loss when we factor in the very real factor of inflation! New York State Budget did NOT fund Healthy School Meals for All which needed $145.6M to sustain last year’s expansion of free school meals through the federal Community Eligibility Provision. Some may point to fully funded NOEP outreach and CACFP outreach funds but those are budget lines that are a fraction of HPNAP and School Meals. A budget is a moral document and we must not accept any less that the necessary support for New Yorkers in need and any organization touting big wins right now in the state budget for hunger relief is simply marketing losses for fundraising gains. MORE HUNGER means we need MORE ADVOCACY, MORE VOICES from the Frontlines of HUNGER and more support from our city and state governments than we are seeing in budgets this year!!!
This cannot be overstated. Awesome post Greg! 👏
Executive Director at The Alliance for a Hunger Free NY and The Food Pantries for the Capital District, Founder of the NYS Food as Medicine Coalition
6moWell said, Gregory Silverman!