New York State Invests 8.3 Million Dollars To Strengthen Food Banks Statewide

We know all too well the challenges of food assistance in our area. Our annual Food-A-Bago food drive for C.H.O.W. will begin on Monday, November 2nd, with Townsquare Personalities ready to greet you in the parking lot of the Weis Food Market at 1290 Upper Front Street, Binghamton. Check out our article on this website for complete details.

While we are on the subject of food assistance, today, October 27, 2026, New York State government announced $8.3 million in capital grants for 59 food banks and emergency food assistance organizations across the Empire State through the New York Providing Local Access to Essential Sustenance program, which is PLATES for short.

This will greatly assist statewide organizations in expanding food storage, improving distribution, and upgrading facilities that serve New Yorkers facing food insecurity. These grants will support projects ranging from refrigerated trucks and expanded cold storage to building renovations and warehouse equipment.

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No New Yorker should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.  As Washington cuts critical food assistance programs, New York is stepping up to help the organizations that families depend on every day. These investments will give food banks and pantries the equipment and infrastructure they need to reach more people, reduce food waste and ensure families across our state have access to fresh, nutritious food. - New York State Governor Kathy Hochul

10 regions in New York State will benefit from this grant, including large regional food banks serving multiple counties and smaller community organizations providing direct assistance to residents.

The 10 regions include Western New York, The North Country, Finger Lakes, New York City, Capital Region, Long Island, Mid-Hudson Region, Mohawk Valley, Central New York, and the Southern Tier.

Southern Tier organizations that will benefit from the grants include:

• Catholic Charities Food Bank of the Southern Tier, Chemung County — $400,000: Acquisition of refrigerated box trucks to expand food distribution capacity, particularly in rural communities.
• Broome County Council of Churches, Broome County — $125,000: Purchase of a refrigerated box truck for its Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse program to support food recovery and distribution.
• Corning Council for Assistance and Information for the Disabled, Chemung County — $97,502: Purchase of a refrigerated food transportation vehicle to support AIM Independent Living Center's community nutrition and food pantry delivery programs.

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