A local non-profit food bank is celebrating a major boost in funding. FeedMore WNY is getting $4.5 million from a special state program.

Nourish New York was set up during the pandemic to reroute surplus food from farmers to food banks. The program is getting $50 million from the state budget.

"In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down western New York, it exacerbated the already longstanding problem of food insecurity in Western New York," Tara A. Ellis, FeedMore WNY president and CEO, said. "Since 2020, FeedMore WNY has provided more than 12.6 million meals to the WNY community. This could not have been accomplished without the support from our community, hunger relief partners and our champions in government. The Nourish NY program, which was created in 2020 to help feed New Yorkers while providing additional revenue for our New York Farmers and producers, has been a lifeline for our hunger relief partners. We commend the efforts of Assemblywoman Cruz for being a champion for this program and the help it has provided to countless New Yorkers, and Assemblyman Rivera for ensuring that FeedMore WNY will be able to continue to serve the Western New York community in the future."

In addition to the Nourish New York money, Assemblymember Jon Rivera was also able to get the non-profit an additional $200,000 in funding.

"The Nourish New York program has been instrumental in maintaining critical links between our state’s farms and emergency food providers, while the impact that FeedMore WNY has locally in feeding underserved and vulnerable populations cannot be understated," Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said. "I am honored to be able to bolster these crucial programs and organizations at a time in which our fellow residents need broader and more direct access to fresh food more than they ever have." 

That cash is coming from the New York State and Community Capital Assistance Program.

FeedMore will use this money to buy excess food and products from farmers to give to families in need.