NY Daily News: Beating child hunger with tastier school food
March 8th, 2024
“Restoring these cuts to school meals and menus means we can keep making progress in this fight. The success of quality no-cost school meals, ensuring at least two healthy meals a day to every child, is vital at a time when hunger is on the rise.”
March 7th, 2024
“It’s a real win,” said Rachel Sabella, director of the nonprofit No Kid Hungry, “because those items drove up participation. When more kids get the nutrition they need to thrive in the classroom, they help grow our great city even stronger.”
Harlem World Magazine: Mayor Adams, Chancellor Banks, And No Kid Hungry NY Honor NYC’s “Hunger Heroes” And Food Education Champions
March 7th, 2024
“These 53 workers, dedicated cafeteria staff who directly serve 800,000 meals to students every day, are on the frontlines of combatting hunger in NYCPS. Each of today’s honorees awarded by No Kid Hungry New York was nominated by leadership from each of the city’s school districts and Office of Food and Nutrition food service administration teams, including inspectors and compliance professionals.”
March 7th, 2024
The news was officially announced at Thursday’s No Kid Hungry event honoring “hunger heroes” across city school districts, like P.S. 32 cafeteria cook Anna Yolene Nicolas Denis, known to students as “Anna Banana.” “I’m happy because they keep asking for it,” said Nicolas Denis. “I’m so happy, I cry inside and laugh outside.”
NY 1: Exclusive: City to restore many school food items cuts from menus
March 6th, 2024
“We’ll be watching very closely, looking at menus, looking at budget documents. But I know the administration is listening. I know they made this change very quickly. And they want to make sure more kids are eating,” Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry, said.
The Buffalo News: Another Voice: New York needs the expanded Child Tax Credit
February 29th, 2024
January 22nd, 2024
“For families who have been able to take advantage of the benefits, advocates have said they can be hugely consequential. Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry New York, said P-EBT funds “can be the difference between a child going hungry or having a healthy, nutritious meal.”
The Examiner News: Calling on New York’s Federal Reps to Support WIC and Help Children
January 16th, 2024
Finger Lakes Times: LETTER: Time is running out for Congress to help WIC program
January 16th, 2024
“With the Jan. 19 deadline to avert a partial government shutdown looming, we’re calling on Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Sen. Chuck Schumer, our House Majority member Marcus Molinaro, and all our representatives in Congress to act quickly to fully fund WIC, ensuring that all of New York State’s children get the nutrition they need to grow up healthy.”
Common Dreams: 15 GOP-Controlled States Say No to Federal Dollars to Feed Hungry Children
January 10th, 2024
“No Kid Hungry New York said Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to accept approximately $200 million to feed 2 million vulnerable children “represents a historic opportunity to dramatically reduce hunger for kids” in the state.”
Mid Hudson News: Letter to the Editor: Fully fund WIC
January 9th, 2024
“Across New York State, nearly 124,000 parents, infants, and young children could be turned away from WIC, a federal nutrition program designed specifically to help pregnant women and new moms afford essentials like formula, milk and fresh produce.”
NYN Media: Tackling food insecurity on the rise in New York
January 4th, 2024
“There are many factors that can push a family into food insecurity: the rising cost of groceries due to inflation, low wages or income lost during the pandemic, food benefit programs and social assistance that were cut back,” Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry New York told New York Nonprofit Media. “The latest data from the USDA tells us all these factors are putting more kids at risk of hunger.”
Long Island Weekly: Neighbors In Need: Combating Food Insecurity
January 2nd, 2024
“Providing families with direct assistance to pay for groceries, and providing kids with no-cost meals at schools and other community sites are proven ways to fight hunger. But right now, the programs that help feed kids and families are under attack. Your voices matter. Reach out to your local, state and federal elected officials and urge them to prioritize programs that focus on hunger and the well-being of kids.”
WAMC: Nonprofits push NY Gov. Hochul to opt into summer EBT program by January deadline
December 26th, 2023
“The holidays are an especially busy time for food pantries in the U.S. Ahead of the new year, however, nonprofits across New York are asking Governor Kathy Hochul to start planning for the summer, when many food insecure families lose access to school meals and other programs. Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry New York, says the state has the opportunity to sign up for a new summer electronic benefits transfer program offered by the federal government — but it needs to opt in by January 1.”
amNY: 2023 was New Yorkers’ toughest year yet at the dinner table
December 19th, 2023
“2023 made it incredibly challenging for many families to feed their children–but in 2024 doesn’t have to be. We can do more than just prevent empty plates and lunch trays: we can expand the efforts we know work, and make it a healthy, nourishing year for all of New York’s families.”
Spectrum News: Hochul urged to OK funding for program providing food aid for children
December 18th, 2023
“No Kid Hungry New York and dozens of other organizations urged Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration in a letter Monday to prioritize funding for a federal program aimed to provide about $200 million in food aid to vulnerable children, the organization said.”
Albany Times Union: Letters: Experts underscore need for universal school lunch
December 18th, 2023
“As child hunger rises and inflation hurts families’ budgets, school meals matter more than ever for parents trying to make ends meet, and kids who need nutritious food. We join the Editorial Board in urging the state to make no-cost breakfast and lunch available to every student in New York.”
Staten Island Live: Hunger hides in plain sight on Staten Island (opinion)
December 15th, 2023
“I think people underestimate how prevalent hunger is on Staten Island. We have the same proportion of families relying on SNAP grocery benefits as Manhattan and Queens: One in seven. And while SNAP utilization is higher on the North Shore, the sharpest increases since 2019 came from the Mid-Island (up 29%) and South Shore (up 37%).
There is no “typical” family that relies on food assistance. It hits people of all backgrounds, of all ages, in every single community.”
News 12 Long Island: Nonprofits partner with Freeport schools to help community with food insecurity
November 30th, 2023
‘No Kid Hungry NY and Island Harvest partnered with the Freeport Union Free School District to help the community with food insecurity.
Officials with Island Harvest says they provided supplemental food support to over 1,300 Freeport families with fresh fruits and vegetables at different schools since July 2023.”
November 30th, 2023
“For every dollar of SNAP that a family receives, that generally is about $1.50, $1.60 going back into the local economy,” said Stephanie Wu Winter, with No Kid Hungry New York.
Newsday: It’s time to help those in need on Long Island
November 24th, 2023
“A study from No Kid Hungry in the spring found that 52% of Long Islanders said they worry about how to pay for food if they had an unexpected $500 expense. Nationally, U.S. Department of Agriculture data showed that 17 million households, or 12.8%, had difficulty providing food to all of their members at some point in 2022.”
Spectrum News Albany: Examining food insecurity in children across New York state
November 19th, 2023
“Unfortunately, we’ve seen what inflation has done. Whether it’s the cost of heating, the cost of housing, the cost of gas. Everybody is facing increased costs. Families that were traditionally middle-class, were just getting by, are still facing this, it’s hitting so many different levels of families and kids across the country.”
November 14th, 2023
Stephanie Wu Winter, a senior program manager for No Kid Hungry, stressed the urgent need for the benefits.
“We’re glad these programs are being stood up and recognize it’s no small task to administer them,” she said in a statement. “But there’s a clear opportunity to increase outreach to families and give them direct lines of communication to understand what benefits they’re eligible for and when they’ll receive them. There’s time to get this right, but only if we move quickly.”
October 31st, 2023
“What was most surprising that came out of this USDA report was the skyrocketing increase of child hunger,” Sabella said. “Last year, it was one in eight children that could face food insecurity. This year, we’re looking at nearly one in five kids.”
News12 Brooklyn: New York organizations looking to combat food insecurity as issue grows
October 25th, 2023
“We often say hunger hides in plain sight,” said Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry New York. “Towards the end of the week, when the cupboards are getting bare, it may mean that a family member, a caregiver are skipping meals so that they’re able to give more food to their child.”
PIX 11 News: New York City school’s cafeteria staff honored for making healthy meals
October 17th, 2023
“On Tuesday at P.S. 56 in Norwood Heights in the Bronx, staff members were honored and thanked by students and No Kid Hungry, which helps provide healthy meals and nutritional education to students.”
Staten Island Advance: School meals provide nutrition, stretch family budget (letter to the editor)
October 14th, 2023
“The new school year is in full swing across New York. For many kids, it also means the return of an important source of nutrition: school meals.”
The Daily News: Letter: It’s ‘National School Lunch Week’
October 14th, 2023
“School meals are a lifeline for the 1 in 6 kids in our state living with hunger. And for parents struggling to make ends meet, school meals can help stretch the monthly budget.”
The Patch: Ossining School District Announces Updates to School Meal Program
October 10th, 2023
“According to No Kid Hungry NY, countless children across New York State miss out on breakfast and lunch due to financial constraints, despite not meeting the eligibility criteria for free meals set by federal poverty guidelines. However, the CEP program eliminates those barriers to participation, and ensures that every child can enjoy nutritious meals during their school day.”
“In May, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $134 million in the state budget for free school meals for all students at low-income public and private schools. The funding is intended to incentivize participation in the federal Community Eligibility Provision program and will help offset costs that resumed after federal aid for free school meals for all students during the pandemic expired.
The funding will allow 550 more schools in 160 districts to offer free meals to students for the first time, according to No Kid Hungry.”
“Así lo advierte una reciente encuesta de la organización No Kid Hungry New York (Ningún niño con hambre en Nueva York), que dibuja un panorama todavía más preocupante en la comunidad latina, pues advierte que más neoyorquinos luchan para poner comida en la mesa cada día, como lo manifestó el 48% de los hispanos encuestados, es decir casi la mitad, que reportaron sufrir inseguridad alimentaria en los últimos 12 meses. En el caso de los blancos, la cifra fue del 35%.”
“This is thanks to a smart new federal policy that went into effect this summer. It changed the arcane rules governing how summer meals are provided to better support rural communities. Rather than mandating kids eat meals at a certain time at a specific location, in eligible communities, schools and local community groups can now provide meals in the ways they know work best – like we’re seeing in Falconer.
This was a policy No Kid Hungry has fought long and hard for, and it was a huge win for millions of kids and families. But sadly, the implementation of the current federal guidelines for this new option has still left out many kids in other communities like Falconer that sorely need this flexibility.”
“In a statement, Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry New York, called the free meals program a “critical lifeline” for struggling families. The texting service also includes information about how to get Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits, which if eligible can provide families with additional monthly funds for food.”
“No Kid Hungry New York has announced $122,000 in new grants to help New York public schools in rural areas reach and provide more kids with free, nutritious meals all summer long. The new funding to organizations in the Finger Lakes, North Country, Western New York, Mohawk Valley, Hudson Valley and Capital Region will expand programs and overcome barriers that have kept families from accessing resources in summers past by providing grab-n-go meals, home-delivery meals, additional staffing and new meal sites.”
“In a recent survey, nearly 75% of New York families said it had become harder to afford groceries this past year, according to No Kid Hungry, a national campaign run by the nonprofit Share Our Strength.
‘With so many New Yorkers struggling to pay for food, we’re relieved the USDA has approved the State’s plan to provide P-EBT benefits to eligible families,’ said Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry NY, in a statement.
“‘We’re proud to partner with school districts and community groups across the state to make it easy and seamless to find a free summer meals site close to home,’ Sabella said.”
“There’s an easier way for New York families in need to help feed their children this summer. The group No Kid Hungry has a national texting hotline that can be used to find free meals for the next few months.”
“When school lets out for summer, kids lose access to two healthy meals each day. The summer meals program ensures that they have the nutrition they need to return to school in the fall nourished and ready to learn.”
“A recent poll found 73% of New York families find it harder to afford groceries this year than in previous years.”
“Each of the organizations we’re funding is a frontline provider that helps families put food on the table. Our Community Nutrition Grants will help them do more: more kids whose parents have grocery benefits, more kids screened for programs like the Child Tax Credit that put money back in families’ pockets, more families with a place to turn for food in an emergency. Together, with these school districts and community groups we can get thousands more kids the food they need to thrive in life,” said No Kid Hungry New York Director Rachel Sabella.
“This roadmap paves the way for greater access to nutritious, culturally appropriate meals in our schools and in our communities — essential to the health and learning of our next generation,” said Rachel Sabella, New York director, No Kid Hungry.”
“We all recognize the catastrophic impact a default would have, but we’re disappointed that the deal includes policy changes that harm people experiencing hunger and poverty,” No Kid Hungry Director Rachel Sabella said Thursday.
“An estimated 45,000 New Yorkers are at risk of losing their SNAP benefits due to new restrictions and requirements, the group said.
Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry New York, said nearly 3 million New Yorkers depend on SNAP to pay for groceries and “put food on the table.”
“We shouldn’t be playing politics with programs that help Americans meet their basic needs. Nearly 3 million New Yorkers rely on SNAP to pay for groceries and put food on the table. These are our neighbors, not political pawns. And restricting their benefits has always been more about serving up political talking points rather than saving money.”
“Two years ago, No Kid Hungry was proud to partner with SUNY to address campus food insecurity, and I am thrilled to see anti-hunger initiatives have become part of the fabric of the state university system so that every student can focus on their academic goals rather than where their next meal is going to come from.”
“We know that families with kids in public school are having to make very hard trade-offs right now, deciding between buying food or paying rent, purchasing clothes, or just keeping the lights on,” said Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry NY. “Our recent data indicates that the hunger crisis is worsening in New York, so supporting families with P-EBT funds they can use to put food on the table will be a lifeline for many New Yorkers.”
“We know that when people have regular access to that nutritious food, it helps them grow stronger. When kids have access to a school breakfast that gives them that balanced meal, they do better in school,” Sabella said. “We want to make sure increased access to healthy foods is available.”
No Kid Hungry New York Director Rachel Sabella highlights policies the state should implement to address the hunger problem in the Empire State, which includes nearly two in five adult New Yorkers experienced some form of food insecurity over the last year, according to a new survey.
“A new poll by No Kid Hungry New York uncovered a sobering reality. Three-quarters of adults found it harder to afford groceries over the past 12 months. Also, two in five reported not eating for an entire day, running out of food, or experiencing another symptom of food insecurity.”
“No Kid Hungry NY, a prominent advocacy group, has released survey findings revealing that New Yorkers across various income levels are worried about hunger issues. The survey’s results coincide with a significant increase in living costs over the past year, which has strained household budgets and caused a nationwide surge in grocery prices.”
“Rachel Sabella is the director of No Kid Hungry New York, and she says the recent ending of supplemental nutrition assistance program emergency allotment payments around $90 a month, has really hurt during all this inflation.”
“Almost 75% of New Yorkers surveyed are finding it harder to afford groceries now compared with one year ago and 59% said they have experienced stress, anxiety or depression in the past 12 months trying to figure out how to get food on the table for their family.”
“What we found in this survey was heartbreaking, although not necessarily surprising,” said Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry New York. “The crisis is here, and it’s just getting worse.”
“SNAP is too important to too many New Yorkers to be skimmed, delayed, or cut. We have to protect it for the millions of our neighbors who depend on it. Now is the time for elected officials from New York, at every level of government, to protect this vital program.”
“The heroes come with diverse histories and stories. There are those who have gone to bed hungry themselves, those who have served the city’s schoolchildren for decades, an immigrant who has cooked at a Russian boarding school, a head cook who espouses a “You Matter” motto to her students, a former accountant, and those who are always the first one in and last one out during school days. Many regularly experience understaffed kitchens. All are being celebrated for their fight against hunger.”
“These are exemplary professionals who are vital to school communities, and we are grateful for their work. At No Kid Hungry, we know how much goes into planning, preparing, and serving school meals, and we celebrate the contributions of every food services professional.”
“‘No matter what challenges children may face at home, they can count on our Hunger Heroes to provide nutritious meals every school day – often going above and beyond to make sure New York City’s kids have a healthy foundation to learn,’ said Rachel Sabella, director, No Kid Hungry New York.”
“Lana has been named one of 35 “Hunger Heroes” by No Kid Hungry NY and the NYC Department of Education. This is the third year No Kid Hungry NY has honored cafeteria staff from New York City public schools for being at the frontlines of the battle against hunger, letting kids know that not all superheroes wear capes; they sometimes wear aprons.”
“Organizations like No Kid Hungry New York say that the rollback will negatively impact some families, particularly as high inflation fuels surging food costs.”
“The Pandemic SNAP program helped keep 4.2 million Americans out of poverty.” – Rachel Sabella, Director of No Kid Hungry New York