Update - June 3, 2021:
Thanks to all who participated in the Diocesan Public Policy Advocacy weekend in February, 2021. You helped make the Nourish New York Program permanent!
   The New York Legislature voted recently to establish NOURISH NEW YORK, the state's farm to food bank initiative, as a permanent state program through the Department of Agriculture and Markets. This pandemic initiative, first launched in April 2020, provides funding to New York's food banks and emergency food providers (such as parish food pantries and other community food pantries) for the direct purchase of New York-produced fruit, vegetables, and dairy products to feed those seeking assistance. To date, food banks have purchased from New York farms and distributed through food pantries, 21 million pounds of agricultural products which fed 1.3 million food-insecure families across the state. NOURISH NEW YORK invests in a statewide food system that expands market opportunities for farmers, eliminates food waste, and makes sure no New Yorker goes hungry.
 

Public Policy Advocacy Weekend—Feb 13-14, 2021
Advocacy Issue: Funding for NOURISH NEW YORK initiative

Click here for the DOR Public Policy Agenda

   You can help NYS farmers and the hungry!
   Nourish New York is a New York State program that provides assistance for food insecure families and for farmers who have been struggling with the economic hardship brought on by the pandemic. This initiative provides funding to Food Banks to purchase New York State-produced farm products.
   This accomplishes two goals: it offers market support to farmers, the fishing community, and food processors who have been impacted by the lockdown, while getting high-quality food to individuals and families in communities across the state through the regional Food Banks, who in turn provide low-cost food to local food pantries.
   Nourish New York has provided $35 million in funding during the period May 1- December 31, 2020. Over 17 million pounds of high-quality New York-produced food has been provided to New Yorkers in need. This food came from 4,152 New York farms to date.
   Nourish New York ended December 31, 2020. It is imperative that this effective program be renewed. Because of the continued financial crisis, our Diocesan Public Policy Committee has made this our advocacy focus for 2021. Catholics around the diocese are asked to call on their New York State elected officials to provide suitable funding to make Nourish New York an ongoing program to support hunger relief and farm survival.
   Parishes will be provided petitions, announcements and bulletin notices on this topic in the lead-up to Public Policy Weekend in February.
   To learn more about Nourish New York, go to www.agriculture.ny.gov/NourishNY or watch the short informational video about how it’s helped our farmers, included below.

JUSTICE & PEACE MINISTRY STAFF - CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Monroe: Marcus Ebenhoe, 585-546-7220  x 6202
Chemung/Schuyler/Tioga: Kathy Dubel, 607-734-9784 x 2135
Cayuga/Ontario/Seneca/Yates/Wayne: Robert Vona, 315-789-2686  x 124
Livingston/Steuben: Leigh Shepard, 585-658-4466  x11
Tompkins: Laurie Konwinski, 607-272-5062  x12