Hunger Deepens Across the Hudson Valley as Federal Food Aid Programs Face Cuts

As food insecurity increases across the Hudson Valley, federal food assistance programs that serve as a lifeline for families are being slashed—leaving local food banks scrambling to fill the widening gap.

According to new data from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap report, more than 355,000 people in the region lack consistent access to nutritious food. In Sullivan County, the crisis is especially dire: 14% of residents—and one in five children—are food insecure, the highest rate in the Hudson Valley.

“It’s a crisis, and the numbers are going in the wrong direction,” said Tom Nardacci, CEO of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, in a live interview. “Post-COVID, we thought the need would go down. It hasn’t. In fact, it’s ticking back up.”

The rise in need comes just as the federal government implements significant cuts to cornerstone nutrition programs, including the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Those reductions are already being felt in real terms.

“Our food bank alone is losing 200 tractor trailers of food—about 7 million pounds, or 8 million meals,” said Nardacci. “We’ve already had 27 truckloads canceled this year. That means fewer fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, and proteins available for local families.”

What’s Driving the Crisis?
Food insecurity is often misunderstood, Nardacci explained. It doesn’t necessarily mean someone goes without food entirely—it means they don’t have reliable access to enough healthy, affordable food on a regular basis.

“These are mostly working people—single moms, older adults, folks juggling two jobs,” he said. “They’re coming to food pantries once or twice a month to fill in the gaps.”

In Sullivan County, the factors behind the high rate of food insecurity include persistent poverty, high unemployment, and geographic “food deserts” where affordable groceries are hard to come by. Inflation and the rising cost of housing and healthcare have only worsened the burden.

“Hunger is nonpartisan,” said Nardacci. “And right now, our neighbors need us more than ever.”

Cuts with Real Consequences
TEFAP, a USDA program, supplies food banks with large-scale shipments of produce, meat, and dairy sourced from U.S. farms and producers. During the pandemic, funding was boosted to meet skyrocketing need. Now, much of that has been clawed back.

“We used to get 400 truckloads of USDA food. Now, we’re getting half that,” Nardacci said. “That’s food that was going to every county in our region.”

SNAP, meanwhile, is still on the chopping block. If proposed federal budget cuts go through, Nardacci says the impact would be devastating.

“SNAP is proven to work. It keeps people out of food pantries. Cutting it would push even more people to rely on us—and we simply can’t meet that level of demand.”

Straining to Fill the Gap
To adapt, the Regional Food Bank has invested in new infrastructure, including a recently opened distribution center in Orange County, and is ramping up partnerships with local farms and grocery stores. They’re rescuing food that might otherwise go to waste and expanding school-based pantry programs and senior deliveries.

Still, the math doesn’t add up.

“These efforts might help us make up 2 million pounds of food,” Nardacci said. “But we’re losing 7 million. We can’t close that gap without policy change.”

The food bank serves over 400 partner agencies across the region—most of them small, volunteer-run pantries and soup kitchens. Many are already stretched thin and bracing for shortages.

“There’s a lot of fear and anxiety,” said Nardacci. “These agencies are on the front lines, and they’re asking, ‘What are we going to do if more cuts come?’”

How You Can Help
Nardacci urged residents to get informed and get involved.

“Support your local pantry. Make a donation, drop off food, or volunteer your time. And reach out to your representatives in Washington. Let them know these programs matter.”

For anyone silently struggling with hunger, his message was simple: “You’re not alone, and we’re here to help. The system is challenged, but it’s not going away.”

More information can be found at regionalfoodbank.net.

Image:  The Regional Food Bank is a not-for-profit organization that distributes food to more than 1,000 partners feeding our neighbors in need in 23 counties of northeastern New York. (Credit: Regional Food Bank)