(Cortland, NY)- On Wednesday, November 5, Senator Lea Webb was joined by the Office of Assemblymember Anna Kelles, local leaders from Cortland County, and community partners from the Food Bank of Central New York, Catholic Charities of Cortland County, and Seven Valleys Health Coalition to address the ongoing uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefits and to provide the 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 Cortland 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.”

“While challenges at the federal level are beyond our local control, their effects are felt right here in Cortland County,” said Chairman Kevin Fitch. “We remain focused on supporting our residents, keeping them informed, and doing all we can to reduce the impact on our community.”

Said Karen Belcher, President and CEO at Food Bank of Central New York, “Food Bank of Central New York is making every effort, along with our community partners and pantries, to try to meet the current need. To keep families in our community healthy and stable, businesses, government and the nonprofit sector must work together. Federal nutrition programs like SNAP bring stability, something our communities need right now. They keep families from falling into crisis and give them the foundation to get back on their feet. The Food Bank and our network of community partners cannot possibly make up for the impact of SNAP – for every one meal we provide, SNAP provides nine. We urge Congress to come together, find common ground, and pass an agreement to reopen the government.”

Said Tim Lockwood, “At Catholic Charities, we serve the most vulnerable in our community – working families living paycheck to paycheck, elderly individuals who can’t make ends meet, individuals with mental health and substance use issues and children – with the most basic of necessities: food.  We also provide dignity and hope.  For those individuals that are facing the uncertainty of SNAP benefits, of access to food, it is just an added pressure on their day-to-day lives.  I would like to see federal lawmakers go without food for a week, or two, or a month and see how they like it.  This administration is playing politics with people’s lives.”

Said Jackie Cooper, Executive Director, Seven Valleys Health Coalition, "Seven Valleys Health Coalition, through our food systems work of Seven Valleys Food Rescue, serves as a hub of information and food support for the pantries of Cortland County.  Over the years, we have built the relationships, infrastructure, and volunteer base to connect food from area farms, NYS distributors, and donors to the local pantries serving our neighbors in need. This regional distribution model also allows us to safely acquire, store and deliver perishable items such as meat, dairy, and produce, which are critical for healthy meals.  It is this coordination and communication that becomes critically necessary in a crisis. We appreciate the emergency funding from the Governor's office and the leadership of Senator Webb and Assemblymember Kelles that will enable us to respond effectively at a time like this."

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 Central New York’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 Central New York, or Seven Valleys Health Coalition. Visit the Food Bank of Central New York’s website to sign up to volunteer and to learn about how to support the Food Bank and help fight hunger by hosting a food drive. 

###