As New York State kicks off Hunger Action Month, officials are celebrating the Food Access Expansion Grant Program.
The program provides $10 million in funding for the development of food retailers and markets across the state.
From that funding, the Broome County Council of Churches received $1.5 million to build a new commercial kitchen and to purchase a new mobile market bus.
New York State Agricultural Commissioner Richard Ball said that Hunger Action Month not only provides funding for local organizations but sparks conversations about food insecurity.
“We’re going to use this, and we’re going to leverage this across the state to point out the good work that needs to happen and the good work that is happening,” said Sellepack. “Obviously, Hunger Action Month, and this cause should not be a today thing or a September thing or just a one-month-a-year thing. It needs to be an everyday thing.”
The commissioner had the chance to sample some food that the kitchen will produce, using eggs, chicken and beef from here in New York State.
Executive director of Broome County Council of Churches Joseph Sellepack said that a new kitchen will expand upon the organization’s existing projects.
“So if you think about the fact that out of that small kitchen, we’re able to produce 6,500 meals in a short amount of time, think what doubling that capacity will do,” said Sellepack.
The new market will be designed to produce meals for sale at The Greater Good Grocery and in the new Mobile Market Bus.
SNAP benefits and EBT will also be accepted at these locations.
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