Right now, more than 3 million New Yorkers who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are facing a food emergency — and the union movement will not stand by while our neighbors go hungry.
That's why NYSUT has joined forces with the NYS AFL-CIO and other labor organizations for Labor Feeds NY: A Week of Action Against Hunger, running Nov. 15—23. At a kickoff press event today at the Regional Food Bank in Albany, NYSUT President Melinda Person joined state AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento and other regional labor leaders to announce the joint program, which will push for union-led food donation programs across the state.
The statewide effort is aimed at helping New Yorkers who are impacted by rising food and living costs, as well as the lingering effects of the longest-ever federal government shutdown that hindered the delivery of SNAP funds.
During this Week of Action, all NYSUT locals and members are encouraged to:
- Collect and donate non-perishable food to local pantries and school-based food programs.
- Contribute funds to hunger relief organizations making a difference in your community.
- Volunteer at soup kitchens, food banks, and community meal sites.
Many locals are already leading the way. On Long Island, the Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers is collecting donations for a Thanksgiving Turkey Drive. In the Southern Tier, the Olean Teachers' Association is hosting a food drive to benefit the local food bank. Downstate, the White Plains Teachers' Association launched a fundraiser to support Feeding Westchester's mission of providing nourishing meals to thousands struggling with food insecurity.
These examples are just a few out of hundreds of similar actions going on from Buffalo to the Bronx:
Between rising grocery costs and the disruption of SNAP benefits, your local efforts are especially critical this year. If your local is planning an event, please share details with us so we can amplify your efforts. Use the hashtag #LaborFeedsNY and tag @nysut on social media or send us details and photos of your event to social@nysut.org. We'll be sharing these stories in the coming weeks to highlight the difference you and your members are making in your communities.
"Every act of solidarity, large or small, helps ensure that no family faces an empty table this fall," President Person said at today's announcement. "In New York, feeding our neighbors is what solidarity looks like. This is our union in action."
To learn more about efforts in your region, including a list of events and volunteer opportunities organized by Area Labor Federations and Central Labor Councils, visit nysaflcio.info/laborfeedsny.
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