Pantry supporters:
Remember how you felt the last time you had to skip lunch?
You were hungry and maybe a little weak, tired or irritable? Did you feel
deprived? Now imagine having to skip lunch every day, all year long. That’s
what could happen to food pantry clients if the HPNAP funding is lumped in with
WIC and other programs. If all of these programs are competing for the same
funds, and the funds have been reduced, some people in New York State are going
to have to skip a lot of lunches.
The Caroline Food Pantry provides a box of groceries for
over 500 people twice each month. Last year HPNAP was about 1/3 of our budget,
$16,333.00. If we lose that funding, or it’s greatly reduced, many people will
have a great deal less to eat.
Our clients range in age from babies to men and
women in their 90’s. Those that can work, for the most part do so. Almost one half
of our clients are under 18 or over 62. Many of the rest are disabled, working
more than one job, and/or have a family member with severe and expensive
medical issues. Their budgets are already stretched to the limit, as is the
pantry’s.
Please do not allow Governor Cuomo to eliminate HPNAP as a
separate line item in the budget. The change in funding won’t make a lot of
difference to the state, but it will make an enormous difference to our
neighbors who need this help.
Please help by calling Barbara Lifton’s office at 277-8030
or e-mailing her at LiftonB@assembly.state.ny.us and by
calling Jim Seward at 432-5524 or e-mailing him at seward@senate.state.ny.us
before Friday, February 22nd.
Thank you.
Pat Brhel
Director – Caroline Food Pantry
539-9928
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