Advocacy Highlights 2025
Advocacy Season 2025
In July, City Harvest closed out a truly meaningful year of advocacy. Despite historic and devastating cuts to federal programs that feed and support millions of New Yorkers, City Harvest worked with a diverse coalition of partners and a growing number of community members to advocate for anti-hunger policies. From bussing over 100 pantry leaders to Albany to advocate for state programs that build food security to engaging our volunteers in petitioning, rallying, and registering New Yorkers at our Mobile Markets to vote for the first time, City Harvest expanded and strengthened our advocacy efforts during a transitional period in Washington, DC.
At a time when 1 in 6 New Yorkers are facing food insecurity and pantry visits are up 85% compared to 2019, your advocacy is deeply important for our fight against hunger. Below are some of the outcomes that you contributed to in our most recent year of advocacy.
Advocacy Highlights
Preserved $112M
in funding for New York State-sourced food for New York’s food pantry network through the NourishNY & the Hunger Prevention & Nutrition Assistance Program in FY25. This effort was powered by a trip to Albany in which we bussed 100+ pantry leaders in partnership with UWNYC and FBNYC.
Restored nearly $60M
in funding for the city’s primary emergency food supply program, Community Food Connection, protecting funding for over 700 emergency food providers.
Expanded advocacy for sustainability efforts
by joining the Zero Food Waste Coalition and championing the Food Date Labeling Act, a bill that presents an opportunity to reduce food loss through clear and consistent food labeling standards.
Launched a new advocacy volunteer program
which saw 55 City Harvest volunteers dedicating 300 hours to petition at mobile markets, rally at City Hall, and register people to vote with NYC Votes.
Expanded universal free school meals statewide
removing barriers to breakfast and lunch at school for children across New York, with NYC setting a standard for universal school meals in the State since 2017.
Supported issue experts in advocating for affordable childcare and affordable housing priorities
by including an ask to fund New York State housing access voucher program and to restore funding for early childhood education centers in NYC. Learn more about the link between hunger and affordable housing and childcare in our Reports on Hunger section.