No Kid Hungry New York Applauds Governor Hochul’s State Of The State Commitments to Fighting Child Hunger

NEW YORK—Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed in her State of the State today that New York has opted-in and will prioritize funding for Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), a new federal program that could provide approximately $200 million in food aid to as many as 2 million vulnerable children across the state. The Governor also announced a commitment to screen more families for WIC, a federal nutrition program designed specifically to help pregnant women and new moms afford essentials like formula, milk and fresh produce. The Following is a statement from No Kid Hungry New York Director Rachel Sabella:

“Hunger is on the rise in New York, and we applaud Governor Hochul for taking action to keep children healthy and nourished. Locking in Summer EBT represents a historic opportunity to dramatically reduce hunger for kids across New York by helping their families afford groceries when schools close for summer break. We are also pleased the State is taking steps to expand access to WIC, a critical resource for the health and development of our youngest New Yorkers, as well as other key programs that support families facing hunger and poverty across the state.”

As rising inflation has driven up grocery prices, families are struggling more than ever to afford essential staples. No Kid Hungry’s 2023 poll showed 2 in 5 New York families experiencing a symptom of food insecurity, and nearly 3 in 4 New Yorkers reported it harder to afford groceries last year than in 2022.

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About No Kid Hungry

No child should go hungry in America. But millions of kids could face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.