DUNKIRK, N.Y. — The statewide effort to feed those in need during the pandemic continues thanks to a recent $25 million boost to the Nourish New York program.

What You Need To Know

  • NYS fed $25M into the Nourish New York Program
  • The program distributes locally gown food and produce to food pantries across the state
  • Two bipartisan lawmakers are partnering to create a permanent program when Nourish expires
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State lawmakers say the program is only temporary and look to create a permanent farm to food program after the current one expires.

Shauna Moreland of Dunkirk is frying up some chicken and helping prepare a spaghetti dinner for her family.

"We're using some of the noodles that we have from the program," said Robert Dorman, Chautauqua County Rural Ministry project coordinator.

That program, is Nourish New York.

"A tremendous help. I've been low on a few items that I needed and they provided with the baskets every Saturday," said Moreland.

Nourish New York is a temporary program that received another $25 million from the state to combat food insecurity because of the pandemic.

Food from local farmers and producers are delivered to local food pantries like Chautauqua County Rural Ministry in Dunkirk, where dozens of boxes are then stored on the shelves.

"It’s helpful when you see people that come back frequently and then when you're seeing new people that are coming in also,” said Dorman. “You're reaching out to a lot of people, so it is very rewarding.”

In addition to its deliveries throughout the community and to other agencies, the food pantry is open all year long and has served about 4,000 meals weekly, thanks to Nourish New York.

"Just getting the food to the people alone is huge but also keeping the farms running. Right now we're seeing a lot of people who usually aren't in this kind of situation that are now in need and we're getting to different places and we've gotten to distribute to almost every town in the county," said Dorman.

To further help those in need, Republican State Senator George Borrello from Sunset Bay in the minority, is collaborating with Democratic Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz from Queens in the majority.

"Yes, the politics sometimes gets in the way of doing good things. But in this case, I feel really confident that, that's not going to be the case," said Borrello.

They've introduced legislation to create a permanently funded farm to food program once Nourish New York expires.

"There are no party lines to hunger. Help the farmers in upstate New York have a more steady, more stable source of income, and help the members of my community, communities around the state who are suffering with food insecurity have a steadier, healthier stream of food," said Cruz.

"Closing that gap and giving them what they need to survive. Not only farmers but also to the folks who are on the front lines providing food to those folks in need," said Borrello.

Like Shauna, who not only cooks at home but also works as a weekend kitchen supervisor at Rural Ministry.

She says it's her way to give to others the same help that’s been so beneficial to her.

"There's a lot of people in need. A lot of people. And I mean without the program, some of them wouldn't be eating," said Moreland.