Advocacy
WSCAH continues to pursue strong advocacy efforts to help push the needle on policies that affect our customers and other Emergency Food Providers in New York City. WSCAH has diligently advocated for a seat at the table and is now part of the New York City Innovative Capacity Working Group. This group consists of key leaders from the Food Bank of New York City, United Way of New York City, Met Council, New York Common Pantry, the Campaign Against Hunger, and the Human Resource Administration/Department of Social Services (HRA) working alongside the Mayor’s Office for Food Policy.
Additionally, WSCAH has led successful advocacy efforts on behalf of Emergency Food Providers and the communities we serve to provide vaccination access to the frontline workers who have been risking their health every day of the pandemic to ensure that New Yorkers can access the healthy food they need and deserve.
Thanks to the efforts of WSCAH and our colleagues across The Roundtable – a dedicated network of emergency food providers – NYC’s Community Food Connection (CFC), formerly known as the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP), now includes a choice of fresh produce after decades of only offering shelf stable food. CFC provides funding to more than 500 community kitchens and food pantries citywide.
WSCAH also continues to monitor state funding dollars, specifically through the New York State Nourish Program, which provides funding to purchase New York grown produce for their customers. WSCAH advocated and received a second round of Nourish New York State dollars to purchase New York State grown produce.
If you are interested in getting involved in WSCAH’s advocacy efforts please contact us at [email protected] or 212-362-3662.
See our policy actions below:
The Roundtable: Allies for Food Access Letter on Increasing the NYS HPNAP Budget – April 2023
Testimony on the Current State of Public Assistance Benefits – October 19, 2022
Commentary on the New York State Department of Health’s Medicare Waiver – October 14, 2022
Commentary on the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health – July 1, 2022
Commentary on EFAP Ruling – August 8, 2022
Testimonial on Making Necessary Changes to EFAP Before the New York City Council – March 17, 2021
Emergency Food New York City Council Letter – May 5, 2020
TEFAP and SNAP Testimony by Executive Director at the Farm Bill Listening Session – November 3, 2017
Reducing Food Insecurity in New York City Testimony at City Council – January 25, 2017