(Ithaca, NY)- On Wednesday, November 5, Senator Lea Webb was joined by the Office of Assemblymember Anna Kelles, local leaders from Tompkins County, and community partners to provide community updates on coordinated efforts to connect residents with food resources. 

Said Senator Lea Webb, “We are working hard across New York to meet the growing need for food and other basic needs because of these devastating cuts from the federal government. The Trump administration must fully fund SNAP so that seniors, veterans, families, and children do not go without food. I thank Governor Hochul for delivering state funds to Tompkins County to help cushion the blow of these cuts. I urge her to fund HEAP so that our community can stay warm as temperatures fall. Thank you to my municipal partners and our community partners for stepping up to meet this challenge.”

Said Assemblymember Anna Kelles,  "SNAP and HEAP are not charity. These essential programs are a commitment to nutrition, public health, and opportunity for every New Yorker. The truth is, both SNAP and HEAP touches nearly every corner of our community. It impacts our friends, colleagues, and neighbors. It is used by people you know, probably more than you think. Our incredible but overstretched community partners, mutual aid organizations and food banks are stepping up, but they cannot fill the gap left by federal inaction. We will continue fighting for the full restoration of these programs because our residents deserve the stability and protection they provide. No one should be left guessing how they’re going to keep their family fed and warm.”

Said Tompkins County Legislators Shawna Black and Deborah Dawson, “We must continue to raise our voices and push for strong, reliable support systems that ensure no one in Tompkins County ever goes hungry. “ 

Said Brittanie Earle, Commissioner, Tompkins County Department of Social Services, “Our top priority is making sure that food reaches individuals and families who rely on SNAP, and that we minimize any barriers to receiving that food—such as transportation. The county has taken emergency action to support our local food network, dedicating funds to strengthen food distribution and bolster the capacity of local pantries. We’re coordinating closely with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, community partners, and the state to ensure families have what they need and to minimize any disruption in benefits. Additionally, we  will continue to monitor HEAP funding and connect individuals and families to critical resources so they can stay warm and safe this winter. This is truly a community effort, and we’re deeply grateful to everyone stepping up to help their neighbors.” 

Effective immediately, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Inc. (TCAT) is offering free rides to NY EBT card holders to travel to and from Tompkins County food banks, community meals, grocery stores or other support services until SNAP benefits are fully restored.

Said Tiffany Walker, Assistant General Manager, TCAT, “We are proud to be part of what has quickly become a comprehensive community-wide effort to assist households struggling to put food on the table without that supplemental support from the federal government. Public transportation is essential, particularly for low-income households who have no other alternatives to obtain basic goods and services.” 

Walker noted that the free service for EBT card holders will have minimal financial impact on TCAT, but will have a profound impact on the community.”  

 Walker said that riders only need to show their NY state EBT cards to TCAT drivers when boarding the bus and “with no questions asked.”   EBT card holders can travel on any of TCAT’s 25 routes anytime they are in service. See TCAT’s schedules. Riders are encouraged to use Google Transit to plan their trips to the various support services throughout the county. Residents can also email TCAT at tcat@tcatmail.com or call (607)277-RIDE (7433) for assistance.

 For updates on November SNAP benefits, visit the New York State Office of Temporary and Stability Assistance (OTDA) update page: https://otda.ny.gov/snap-benefits-shutdown.asp

Food assistance: Residents in need of immediate food assistance can dial 2-1-1 to be connected with available food pantries, community meals, and other local support programs. Use the Food Bank of the Southern Tier’s Find Food Tool to locate nearby food resources.

How to help:

Community members looking to support local food access programs can donate money, volunteer, or drop off non-perishable food items. Monetary donations can be made to Food Bank of the Southern Tier where $10 helps provide thirty meals for children, seniors, and others struggling with hunger and food insecurity right here in the Southern Tier. 

In response to SNAP cuts, United Way of Tompkins County is collecting donations and distributing proceeds to Tompkins County Food pantries and distribution networks. To make a gift, visit uwtc.org. 

Visit the Food Bank of the Southern Tier’s website to sign up to volunteer and help feed the community. The Food Bank of the Southern Tier’s warehouse receives and distributes millions of pounds of food every year. Each day, volunteers sort and repack that food and other donated items to prepare them for distribution to our Southern Tier communities. 

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