Advocacy Highlights 2026
Advocacy Season 2026
Last year, City Harvest continued to advance policies that strengthen food security across New York, working alongside community partners, advocates, and policymakers to deliver meaningful results. The passage of H.R. 1 in July 2025 and the resulting $186 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was a devastating blow to the 1.7 million New Yorkers who rely on the program and who could see their benefits decrease in the months and years to come. Together, we stepped up to advocate for more funding for critical emergency food and healthy food access programs, supported citywide efforts to mitigate SNAP disruptions, and led a coalition of environmental and food advocates to successfully champion legislation that will increase food donations, reduce waste, and support local food systems.
At a time when 1 in 5 New Yorkers experiences food insecurity, your advocacy remains essential. Every petition signed, story shared, and action taken helps drive policy change and build a more equitable, sustainable, and food-secure New York.
Advocacy Highlights
Secured over $253M in emergency food funding
with significant funding increases for Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (+27%) and Community Food Connection (+48%), strengthening the capacity of food providers to meet rising demand and address food insecurity.
Helped reduce SNAP benefit disruptions by 65%
through outreach, training, and direct support for New Yorkers navigating new SNAP work requirements, including aging adults, unhoused individuals, veterans, and young adults aging out of foster care, helping more households maintain access to critical nutrition assistance.
Secured over $13M for healthy food access program
by preserving $10 million for the Groceries to Go program, which supports more than 3,000 New Yorkers, and increasing funding for the Get the Good Stuff program by $3.1 million, making nutritious food more affordable for families across New York.
Advanced food waste reduction statewide
by helping establish the New York Food Waste Action Network, a coalition led in partnership with Earthjustice, Environmental Advocates NY, and Island Harvest to champion solutions that reduce food waste, increase food donations, and address climate impacts.
Hosted our inaugural Legislative Breakfast
which brought together more than 70 advocates, volunteers, and policymakers— including 22 elected officials or their representatives—to discuss City Harvest’s policy priorities and the impact of H.R. 1’s historic SNAP cuts on New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity.
Expanded advocacy for equitable and sustainable food procurement
by championing the Good Food New York Act, supporting increased access to nutritious food in public institutions, strengthening local food economies, and advancing for fair labor standards throughout the food supply chain.