BUFFALO, N.Y. — A Western New York food bank is receiving $4.5 million in state funding.
On Monday, Assemblymember Jon Rivera announced that as part of $50 million funding allocated towards the Nourish New York program, $4.5 million in funding will be directed to FeedMore WNY.
"The Nourish New York program has been instrumental in maintaining critical links between our state’s farms and emergency food providers, while the impact that FeedMore WNY has locally in feeding underserved and vulnerable populations cannot be understated. I am honored to be able to bolster these crucial programs and organizations at a time in which our fellow residents need broader and more direct access to fresh food more than they ever have," Rivera said.
Funding from Nourish New York allows emergency food providers to buy fresh produce and dairy products from New York farmers and processors.
Additionally, $200,000 from the New York State and Community Capital Assistance Program will go towards FeedMore WNY to help the organization find other ways and continue to support people in need in Western New York.
"In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Western New York, it exacerbated the already long-standing problem of food insecurity in Western New York. Since 2020, FeedMore WNY has provided more than 12.6 million meals to the WNY community. This could not have been accomplished without the support from our community, hunger relief partners and our champions in government," said Tara A. Ellis, FeedMore WNY president and CEO.
"The Nourish NY program, which was created in 2020 to help feed New Yorkers while providing additional revenue for our New York Farmers and producers, has been a lifeline for our hunger relief partners. We commend the efforts of Assemblywoman Cruz for being a champion for this program and the help it has provided to countless New Yorkers, and Assemblyman Rivera for ensuring that FeedMore WNY will be able to continue to serve the Western New York community in the future."
