Governor Kathy Hochul has asked members of the Empire State Service Corps and the wider New York community to join a statewide Day of Hunger Action on Friday, November 7, 2025. The event aims to address concerns about food security as the federal government shutdown may affect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for about 3 million New Yorkers.
The Empire State Service Corps is New York’s largest AmeriCorps program. It includes 500 students from 45 SUNY campuses, each completing at least 300 hours of paid community service. These students usually work on various civic projects. For this initiative, all Corps members will help food pantries and food banks across the state. Governor Hochul said the goal is to ensure that New Yorkers have access to food during the shutdown.
The state has allocated $100 million to support food pantries and food banks during this time. The Governor’s office is working with SUNY staff to coordinate student support for both regional and campus-based food pantries. This effort is intended to help those who may lose SNAP benefits…